Thoughts on "The Killer's Game" starring Dave Bautista

 

We saw The Killer's Game yesterday, and I truly enjoyed it. Yes, it's (very) violent. Yes, it's loud. But:

1. Wrestler turned actor Dave Bautista gets better and better. He's made it clear in interviews, including here in GQ, that he wants to be a really good actor. He's worked at it and it shows. He can be funny and touching as well as tough.

2. Bautista looks great. Seriously. This article in Variety discusses his weight loss from 315 pounds for Knock at the Cabin to his current 240 pounds. He's still a BIG guy (6'4" tall) but doesn't dominate his co-stars quite as much.

3. Love interest Maize, a ballet dancer who Bautista's Joe Flood meets during a hit, is played by Algeria-born Sofia Boutella. She's a dancer by training and is delightful in the role. I LOVE that the movie avoids the damsel-in-distress set up, with Maize as tough as Joe. The red dress that she wears in her opening performance put me in mind of the classic The Red Shoes.

4. The always wonderful Ben Kingsley is a delight as Joe's boss, as is the terrific Alex Kingston as his wife.

5. The hit people (yes, PEOPLE) who go after Joe at his request after a medical mis-diagnosis are a wonderfully mashed up mix of genders and nationalities.  And that mis-diagnosis is a good reminder that the best research and technology in the world can't always conquer human error.

6. It's great to see women as tough assholes in movies along with men :)

7. And finally: the run time is a tight 1 hour and 45 minutes. Three cheers for a movie that doesn't crack the two hour line - we definitely need more of them.

Most people will see this on streaming services rather than in the theater as I did. But it will stand up well. And yeah, I'll watch this one again.

Comments

  1. Jay DubsSeptember 18, 2024 at 8:09 PM

    ;Great write-up, Mara, and I'm in full agreement. Bautista was already an actor before he got his big break in "Gaurdians of the Galaxy", because pro-wrestling is of course acting. One of his earlier roles in "My Spy" is actually a really cute movie. He and Boutella were great in this movie, and of course the immortal Ben Kingsley can do no wrong. It's a fun movie, but it's got some really intense and scary scenes. I'll definitely watch it again.

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