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Talking to the crowd of Ballistic attendees outside the Capitol theatre (at the Atlantic Film Festival) I attempted to judge the overall expectation for the film. To sum it up in one word..... Low. And there’s only one reason, the film’s promotional department has apparently been coached at the Monty Python school of publicity, using nothing but explosions to try and entice their prospective audience. I’ve got news for them: WE’VE SEEN THAT. The choice to show a 5 minute presentation on the newest pyrotechnics available in Hollywood while omitting any of the humour and verve that Ballistic has to it’s credit does nothing but make an audience wait for video. Plus they should have shown more footage of Ray Park. Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever is a big budget version of the all important lesson “never judge a book by it’s cover.” An ambitious businessman has obtained a device designed to kill without leaving a trace. A rogue government agent, and one of it’s most rigidly loyal employees are both dispatched to retrieve it, and it’s owner. In the fight to accomplish their goal, they discover who their real friends are. AND Ray Park’s in it.
Though he’s not as good looking as Ray Park.
Ray Park plays Ross, the chief protector of the pursued businessman. Besides the fact that he is absolutely FREAKING adorable without all the getups intrinsic to his previous roles, his charisma gives him amazing potential as a lead. I was a little concerned by the flatness of his early scenes. Through the first act of the film he almost seemed nervous. I wondered whether or not he was wondering what to do with himself without his usual prosthetics, without his mask to hide behind. Once we arrived at the third act of the film, all my doubts disappeared. Park’s scenes ceased seeming tentative, and his inner animal came out. Park’s eyes can seem at once savage, consumed with ferocity, and in the next second a sense of protectiveness, and kindness comes out. His performance in Ballistic was uneven, but I sense that was more poor direction then lack of skill, as in his last scenes Park has enough intensity to rival anyone in the action world. Given the right role, with a director who’ll push him to his limits I think Park has the capacity to take a spot among the film world’s elite. Not to mention the fact that I would be hard pressed to name another actor out there who can elevate the estrogen level in a theatre to tangible proportions merely by appearing on the screen. I really enjoyed Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever. Admittedly I put up with some merciless taunting from my fellow festival delegates for going to see that film instead of something more arty, but I wouldn’t have traded the experience of the preview showing for anything. It’s admittedly fluffy, and the story falls in on itself if you examine it too closely, but it’s got great fight choreography, fantastic car chases, witty dialogue, and exceptionally fun performances. It’s everything an action film should be, and is well worth a big screen visit. Plus, well, Ray Park’s in it.
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It’s
very easy to see why Antonio Banderas (Desperado, The Mask of
Zorro) was attracted to the part of Agent Jeremiah Ecks, the reluctant
hero. It’s tailor made for him. Ecks is a very strong character, and Banderas
plays him with smarts and sensitivity. (His character reminded me of Tommy
Lee Jones’ federal marshal in The Fugitive.) Ballistic is
the first film where I have seen Banderas let his natural comic timing
show through to wonderful effectiveness. His sarcastic delivery made Ecks
at once gritty, tough, and likeable. I haven’t enjoyed Banderas this much
since his turn in Desperado.
Lucy
Liu (Charlie’s Angels, TV’s Ally McBeal) plays the tougher
of the two roles; rogue government agent Sever. Watching her I couldn’t
help but be thrilled at the fact that Hollywood has FINALLY put out an
action film with a smart, tough as nails female character. Liu always comes
across as a likeable blaze of charismatic energy which aids in giving her
character depth here. Though Sever might be a vicious woman, Liu’s charisma
makes the audience interested enough to attempt to grasp her character’s
motivations. I am quickly coming to the opinion that Liu is the modern
epitome of grace and style. (Especially here, as in one scene alone she
manages to destroy at least 30 cars, shoot 27 criminals and hijack an assault
vehicle without messing up her hair or ruining her clothes.) I really liked
the fact that her character never lost her edge to make her more palatable
to the male roles in the film. Liu did a great job.