Bright - movie review
Bright
Plot: Set in a world where mystical creatures live side by side with humans. A human cop is forced to work with an Orc to find a weapon everyone is prepared to kill for.
Cast: Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace
Director: David Ayer
Certificate: 15 (strong language, bloody violence, nudity)
Runtime: 1hr 57 mins
Release Date: Friday 22nd December 2017
Welcome to a world where fantasy meets reality. Where the impossible becomes possible. Where the creatures from films such as Lord of the Rings are placed on planet Earth, amongst us humans, free to roam wherever they please. Orcs. Elves. Centaurs. Dragons. This is the world that adventurous screenwriter, Max Landis, has created and brought to life with David Ayer as a director. Some may call this idea ambitious. Other may call it preposterous. However, no one can deny that it's unoriginal. Bright is a film that, on paper, sounds intriguing and for the first half an hour, I found myself compelled to see this new world. However, as soon as the story started developing, that was when my attention began to wane.
 |
| In West Philadelphia, born and raised. With a sword was how I spent most of my days. |
By far, the most appealing aspect to Bright is the world that Landis and Ayer have envisioned and thus presented to us all. Initially, the concept of downtown L.A. being overrun by Orcs, Elves living a lavish and expensive lifestyle while humans are caught up in the middle, is a risky yet interesting idea. The real life racial parallels are clearly apparent with the lower class orcs being looked down upon by the humans and elves and often abused or oppressed by the local authorities. It can be a little on the nose with the social commentary, especially with Will Smith quoting "fairy lives don't matter" moments before he decides to beat the living hell out of a fairy. This world that we are introduced to is not a pleasant one. Similar to Ayer's previous works of End Of Watch and Training Day, the city of Angels is not presented in a positive or optimistic light. It's a dreary, gritty, disgusting place to live littered with street graffiti, gangs roaming around and a constant sense of impending dread that is then greatly contrasted by the lush landscape of the Elven territory packed with giant skyscrapers and supercars filling the streets. Upon giving us an introduction to this world via a typical David Ayer montage with a rap track behind it, we are revealed that Will Smith's character, Ward, is about to return to work after a previous injury and he is tasked with partnering alongside Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), a new addition to the LAPD but Nick has one major difference; he's an Orc. Plagued by controversy, Nick has to fight the oppression from both his fellow officers and his kind that disagree with his actions. This dynamic isn't exactly new for cinema but seeing it in a fantasy perspective provides a more refreshing take on the trope. As for the relationship between Smith and Edgerton, there isn't anything surprising between them. The two start off hating each other (one more than the other) yet, as the film progresses, it should come as no shock that they eventually grow closer and form a brotherhood of sorts. The chemistry between Smith and Edgerton is present. It occasionally isn't as strong as it could be due to the stilted dialogue that our leads are trying desperately to make work but the banter that they share within the confines of their car is often entertaining. Will Smith is doing his typical Will Smith shtick which works. Why? Because he's Will Smith. Edgerton also delivers another strong performance as Jakoby, whom he makes into a very likeable and easy to root for character.
 |
| That feeling when Mum orders takeaway... |
FACT: Given a budget of $90,000,000, this film is the most expensive Netflix movie investment to date.
Bright began on a good footing. The first half an hour or so, in which we meet our would-be heroes and watch them patrol the streets encountering fantastical crimes (a crazed lunatic wielding a sword spouting warnings about the rise of a dark lord being a prime example) was quite thrilling and provided us with a great insight into how this world operates. Think of it like End Of Watch in Fantasyland. Unfortunately, Bright cannot quite sustain the level of intrigue and entertainment throughout and that begins to dissipate once the main plot comes into effect. Putting it simply, Ward and Jakoby, during a regular patrol, run into a runaway renegade elf who happens to be in possession of a magic wand which, in this world, acts as a highly sought after WMD. However, with this news of the magic wand spreading like wildfire, it results in the appearance of Edgar Ramirez's Elf agent, Noomi Rapace's evil elf who seeks the wand for violent means and also various gangs of both humans and Orcs who are all seeking to track it down and kill whoever stands in their way. To begin with, I thought it would become a giant game of cat and mouse with Ward and Jakoby stuck in the middle. Unfortunately, after a confusingly and frustratingly elongated sequence involving a group of corrupt cops, the chase is underway and Bright gradually drifts into becoming a very mundane, formulaic and incoherent mess that, as it nears its conclusion, is just picking up the pieces of the jigsaw and slamming it together in the hope that it all fits. Smith and Edgerton are the only worthwhile presences within the film. Everyone else is just cannon fodder or emotionally vacant. Rapace and her group of evil ninja elves aren't exactly threatening just because they can slit a throat now and again. We know very little about them apart from they want to bring about the end of the world and apparently, that's enough to make a villain. As for the gangs, they are the stereotypical gangs that Ayer seems to include in all of his films; heavily tattooed, bald, grizzled and a potty mouth that would put any Scorsese film to shame. I'm not saying that Ayer may be overdoing this niche, but David Ayer may be overdoing this niche. Also, and I'm not one to usually complain about profanity, but does every other line in this film need to include the word "fuck"? It's either a case of Landis and Ayer flaunting the adult intended age certificate or they think that swearing is an immediate way to make a character seem cool and hip. Newsflash; it isn't.
 |
| She seems... friendly? |
If Netflix were hoping for this to jumpstart their own universe, then perhaps they should think again. The concept of Bright really sold me and the world in which this all takes place intrigues me to the point that I would be willing to see a sequel so long as the story is much sharper and the dialogue isn't as sloppy. Overall, this movie is simply fine. It could have been special but in the end, it settles for just being plain and average.
My Verdict: 6/10
If you like what you've seen here don't forget to share this with everyone you know, comment below and check out my other reviews. Thanks for reading!!
Comments
Post a Comment