Den of the Beastly Bear
Hi Folks!
REALLY late today...
Kathy and I went to see "3 Days to Kill" today, the new Kevin Costner film.
If you are an action film buff, and I tell you it is based on a story by Luc Besson...you know what you're in for.
For those of you less "in the know" let me explain. You have all probably seen a Luc Besson film, you just don't know it...examples? Ok...
"The fifth Element"
"Léon: The Professional"
"The Transporter" 1, 2, and 3
"Le Femme Nikita" movie & TV series
"Point of No Return"
"Columbiana"
"Taken" 1 & 2
"The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc"
"From Paris With Love"
"The Big Blue"
These are but the English language films he has been a part of...not to mention his French film credits.…
Check any of them out, to get your "action" fix!
Getting back to "3 Days to Kill"!
Kevin Costner plays aging CIA operative Ethan Renner, who has abandoned his wife and daughter in an attempt to insulate them from his violent life.
Forced to retire, and given but a short time to live due to illness he is determined to spend what time he has left with his family, who are now living in Paris.
As you can imagine his reception is frosty at best...
He convinces his estranged wife(Connie Neilsen) to let him back into their lives once she learns he's dying.
With, but one caveat...that he is done working.
Assuring her he is, he sets out to reconnect with his now teenage daughter(Hailee Steinfeld).
Enter "ViVi"(Amber Heard) a top CIA operative that offers him a deal...help her find and kill "The Wolf"
in exchange for an experimental drug which may save his life.
The scenes between Costner and Steinfeld are alternately frustrating and touching...as he slowly wins her over.
Of course car chases, gun fights and explosions ensue.
Every time he almost achieves his goal, victory is snatched from his hands.
Another mark of Luc Besson films is humor interspersed amongst the violence...cheifly between a mid level crook Costner needs info from...as well as advice on how to handle his teenage daughter...as the crook has teenage twin girls!
Paris itself is as much a character in the films as the actors. From the cobblestone streets to the Eiffel Tower, the city of lights is on full display.
I won't spoil the movie for you, but if you're familiar with the formula I'll bet you can figure how things turn out.
As with most movies of this type, it's not the destination so much as the journey to get there.
We enjoyed it, and I think you would too...
Come date night, you could do a lot worse.
Happy viewing!
Be Well Folks!
Beastly Bear
