Gemini Man: Review

Will Smith delivers a career-best performance in this visual delight, which is so much more character-driven and morally fulfilling than the critics have led you to believe

Will Smith performing with the motion capture technology in 'Gemini Man' (CREDIT: Paramount)

by Jack Linsdell

I wrote recently about how an overtly negative (and inaccurate) critical consensus damaged one of the best commercial movies of modern cinema with The 5th Wave in 2016. Well...three years later and it seems it's happened again, this time to Ang Lee's much talked about action-thriller Gemini Man. This Will Smith-led and quite pricey $138 million action thrill ride attracted a lot of media attention for it's innovations in motion capture technology, yet this fell mostly on the deaf ears of critics who were quick to pan the movie as being bland and unentertaining. This is me saying to you "Gemini Man isn't perfect, but it's a damn fine movie, and an even better night at the movies". 

Firstly, let's attack it from a technology point of view. The film is pioneering because it's shot in a high frame rate of 120 frames-per-second, which is five times the standard 24 fps. For those that aren't film/camera nerds, it's like pixels. The more you have, the higher quality the image. This one is so sharp that every single hair on skin and dirt under nails is revealed, to the point that the actors couldn't wear "traditional" make-up because it would show. Added to this, the director Ang Lee also shot it in 4K and 3D. What also makes this film special is that Will Smith is playing an aging assassin, and through motion capture work (see the image above) is also providing the performance for his younger clone. It's not the "de-aging" software used in The Irishman but it's along those lines. And, as someone who usually sees all this stuff as a gimmick I will say this. Only select cinemas are showing this in the high-frame-rate, 3D format it was shot in, and my local cinema was one of them allowing me to get the "full" experience. And, I will say that it's well-worth seeing this in the high-rate/3D format. The style of the movie lends itself perfectly to the 3D format, really immersing you into the action, and the sharp quality makes this a "cinematic event" worth checking out. 

Without the technological innovations, Gemini Man would certainly be a cheap, Will Smith-starring action vehicle we've all seen before. So, the filmmakers have (cleverly) made what would be a relatively ignored movie into a must see cinematic event. And, for that reason it is worth believing the hype, and spending the extra money to see it in the format it was made to be seen in. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience (and the movie), and was pleasantly surprised. It is a unique movie because of the viewing experience and technology involved and worth checking out on the big screen.

But, from a film point-of-view, Gemini Man is still equally entertaining and a well-made action movie regardless of the technology involved. Yes, the story (about an ageing assassin who grows a conscious and is hunted down by a corrupt intelligence agency handler) is a well-worn one in Hollywood action flicks. And, yes, the story may be a little thin in places. However, what writers Darren Lemke, David Benioff and Billy Ray cleverly craft is a compelling, character-led action/drama that deals with relatable morality issues within the disguise of an entertaining popcorn flick. Really the movie acts as a parable for self-reflection and a natural ability to hate ourselves for all our flaws and regrets. The introduction of Will Smith's younger clone allows him to prevent another version of himself making the same mistakes he did (not having a family etc.), leading to some quite poignant and well-sketched, yet subtlety and tastefully presented emotional conflict to underline the action. If anything, this isn't your conventional meat-n-potatoes action flick. This is a movie that remains consistent with it's characters and relatable morality, even if it wavers plot wise here and there. Better to be a little clichéd with heart and entertainment value, than completely original yet one-dimensional. 

This truly is an Ang Lee film, who proves that despite being a double Oscar winner for best director, he isn't just an accoladed name. He's actually got the talent to support that success. His choice to immerse the audience into the film with visceral action, many one-take scenes and a fluidity and brutality to the camera is something that pays dividends time and time again. He elevates the material with a fantastic eye for how to craft a most entertaining film as well as a unique viewing experience. His camera captures the best of the performances, rather than the other way around, which truly is what good direction is all about. Standouts include a fantastic motorbike chase towards the beginning, in which his one-take, immersive style truly absorbs you into the movie. His knowledge of stakes, and making flying bullets act like jump scares from a horror movie really deepens the tension drastically. Not to mention, the film relies more on a series of fantastically thrilling and well-choregraphed fight scenes over explosions and car chases which gives the movie another "refreshing" feather to add to it's cap. They're brutal, yet contained and not over-edited giving them that much more of an impact. It's a gorgeous movie too with stunning locations and practical effects. 

Performance wise, as the title said, Will Smith delivers a career-best here playing two versions (one young, one old) of the same character, in which he handles the physicality of the action sequences and the emotional weight and subtly of the emotional conflict with equal ease. He does carry the film, and proves that despite being a big name (and one of the last true "butts in seats" movie stars left), he is actually one of the finest actors in the game too. Added with Aladdin this summer, and Smith has had a phenomenal year really. Okay, Bad Boys For Life probably won't be great next year, but hey, I have a lot of time for him. Although, his equally talented co-star Elizabeth Mary Winstead is an equal talent, with Lee's camera leaving no where for the actors to hide. Not only his her performance equally sublime, but her character is also the kind of "strong but vulnerable" realistic representation that women deserve on the big screen. She's strong and can fight herself out of a situation, although she does get knocked around and have weaknesses too. The comic relief (of which there's quite a bit) comes from Smith's character's best friend Baron played well by Benedict Wong who brings a little charm into the movie. 

Lastly, we can't not mention the score. Lorne Balfe proved last year with his work on Mission: Impossible - Fallout why he's one of the best composers in the business. Here, he does it again. My god is the music good in this. Amplifying the tension, increasing the adrenaline rush and pulling on the emotional chords all at the right time, Balfe's score is another tremendous triumph for the movie.

Gemini Man has found it's fame through it's pioneering technology, which does make the film a unique cinematic experience and a thoroughly entertaining night at the movies. It's worth the extra price (and trip) to see it in a screen that accommodates the high-frame-rate format. However, with excellent characters, relatable morality, original action and performances to die for, Gemini Man shows that if you take away all the technology, you're left with a sublimely entertaining and well-made action movie. Okay, you may have seen it before. But, its a superbly well-executed "seen it before", that shows you that the critics are often wrong when it comes to these commercial movies.

4/5 STARS