Heavily cliched but peppered with great actors and occasionally smart dialogue.
The Protege
“We find people who can’t be found.” Anna (Maggie Q)
That’s all of the back story you need to know about two highly-accomplished assassins: Anna, the protégé, and seasoned-killer Moody (Samuel L. Jackson). When Moody apparently gets assassinated himself by unknown world-thugs, Anna goes after them. That’s all you need to know of plot.
The richness of such a formulaic thriller is in the everyday details that action filmmakers like director Martin Campbell and writer Richard Wenk weave amongst the gymnastics of ninja fighting and out of control gun fire. Anna is a stoic Asian as lean with her commentary as her fit body. Credit Maggie Q for retaining her cool in the presence of unmitigated absurdity. Moody is essential Jackson, smart with the quips and philosophy while casually deadly with hands and guns. And always with a smile.
Unlike other thrillers a la mode, Protégé has a villain, Vohl (Patrick Malahide), who doesn’t want to rule the world but just wants it to adore him for his charitable enterprises and never know of his extracurricular activities like trafficking. He’s tied to the bad things that happen to Anna and Moody, who pursue him regardless of the goon hordes protecting him.
Fortunately for us, Vohl’s lieutenant is Rembrandt (Michael Keaton) whose affection for Anna offers the humanity Anna doesn’t bring to the film. Keaton tops Jackson for expert smart-aleck comments. Listening to him and Anna banter while they are becoming more enmeshed in Vohl’s miscarriages is to remember the energy of the old screwball repartee. They are good together although mortal enemies, a pleasant Bond twist for a shamelessly rigid genre.
If Maggie Q were given a chance to show range in her dialogue, she might be a candidate for the James Bond role. As it is, Protege is a fun time at the theater with glamorous sets, great-looking actors, and a plot that hints at world problems while letting us enjoy some serious down time. At the least, Protégé is poised for a sequel—I’m in if Q, Keaton, and Jackson are in.
The Protege
Director: Martin Campbell (Casino Royale)
Screenplay: Richard Wenk (The Equalizer)
Cast: Michael Keaton (Birdman), Maggie Q (Divergent)
Run Time: 1h 49m
Rating: R
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts WCBE’s It’s Movie Time and co-hosts Cinema Classics. Contact him at JohnDeSando62@gmail.com
