‘The Union’ Review: Old Friends Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry Reunite in a Middling Spy Movie

‘The Union’ Review: Old Friends Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry Reunite in a Middling Spy Movie

As a seasoned cinephile with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt and a penchant for action-packed spy thrillers, I must say that “The Union” left me feeling more like I was stuck in quicksand than on the edge of my seat 。この映画の前提は、古いアクションフリックのプロットのように薄く、ジャンルの前任者が設定したペースに追いつくのに苦労しています。


Mike McKenna (Mark Wahlberg) experienced his life’s pinnacle in high school, contrastingly, Roxanne Hall (Halle Berry) broke free from their dead-end lives in New Jersey to explore the world. Instead of joining a local construction workers union, Roxanne became part of The Union, a covert spy group that she casually remarks, “Most of the intelligence community doesn’t even know we exist, and those who do often regret discovering us.”

In Netflix’s exclusive service, “The Union,” we find a tale that revolves around a heartwarming reunion, specifically between Mike and Roxanne. This story unfolds amidst a predicament reminiscent of numerous recent spy films. Mark Wahlberg, in this instance, yearns for the role of James Bond, a dream he’ll never realize as a Dorchester-born American. Instead, he gets to embody the second-best option, being tapped by a former Bond girl, Halle Berry, who dons an unusual hairdo last seen in “Swordfish,” a pixie cut with anime influences, one side shaved, and the other spiky with blond tips.

The film’s main concept involves placing a commoner in a typical action flick scenario, an arrangement that feels more forced than convincing.このプロットは、Western Alliance Nation(最初の「ミッション:インポッシブル」映画のNOCリストと同様)にサービスを提供したすべての人に関する繊細なデータの盗難を中心に展開し、それを回復するには、そのリストにない人が必要です。 In other words, they need an ordinary person, and Roxanne has the perfect candidate for the task.

Mike has been frequenting the same bar since Roxanne broke up with him, hoping she might return. When she finally does, he’s asked, “Was it as you thought it would be?” To which he replies, “I guess not.” In his mind, Roxanne was always pictured in a swimsuit. This seems to suggest that the movie caters more to adolescent boys, despite Wahlberg believing he’s making this film for working-class men back home. What else might he be referring to when his character says, “It’s enjoyable seeing myself portrayed on screen”? He’s not sipping martinis in a tailor-made tuxedo, but this certainly doesn’t seem like the representation that Hollywood has been lacking.

Once again, it’s Wahlberg’s project, and despite the movie suggesting otherwise, he was the one who recruited Berry for their covert agent roles. The two veterans in Hollywood have been friends for years, which adds a delightful touch of old grudges – manifested in sharp, playful jabs and subtle flirtations – to a film that could have benefited from more humorous banter instead of the generic action sequences set in Trieste, London, and Istria. Instead, we’re treated to routine action scenes, with Mike dealing with obstacles like driving on the opposite side of the road and leaping onto a moving barge from a bridge.

In this film, Wahlberg portrays Mike with an apparent reluctance towards spy work, yet the script fails to provide a compelling motivation for his eventual cooperation. Perhaps if Roxanne had been kidnapped or someone close to him, like Lorraine Bracco (underutilized as his mother), was in peril, he might have joined the union. However, as it stands, it seems Wahlberg’s character consents due to his personal preference for the role. It is also believed that Wahlberg played a part in casting director Julian Farino, who has experience in comedy but appears less comfortable with action sequences, which are evident in action scenes reminiscent of 007 and “Mission: Impossible” movies.

After Mike decides to become a part of the team, the movie condenses a two-week training period (originally reduced from six months) into a brief montage sequence. During this montage, Mike interacts with other Union members such as senior member Tom Brennan (played by J.K. Simmons), combat specialist Frank Preiffer (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), mental health evaluator Athena Kim (Alice Lee), and a tech-savvy individual who goes by the name “the Foreman” (Jackie Earle Haley). Occasionally, the movie hints that these agents may have been ordinary, diligent workers like Mike in the past. However, if this were the case, then Roxanne would not fit the mold of a typical Union member.

おそらく彼女はそうしますが、「組合」には問題があります – 映画もそのキャラクターも個性を持っているようではなく、お互いについてどのように感じているかは不明です。悪役を明らかにすることは、小さな驚きを台無しにするかもしれませんが、悪役がかつてロクサーヌと結婚していたと言っていることを暗示するという安いトリックについて不平を言っているように感じます。 3人のキャラクターがすべて一緒になったとき、映画はマイクと彼のライバルの間でjeを誘発することを目指していますが、代わりに、マイクが最終的に友人ゾーンで終わるにつれて、元高校の恋人の間の化学の建物を止めるようです。

本質的に、このジャンルでの過去のパフォーマンスを考慮すると、ベリーとウォールバーグをアクションヒーローとして想像することには、否定できない魅力があります。 For instance, Berry’s intensity in “Kidnap” is hard to match, while Wahlberg thrives in director Peter Berg’s real-life hero portraits like “Patriots Day”. However, in “The Union”, it’s evident that they are frequently replaced by stunt doubles, and even when they’re not, their actions don’t seem entirely convincing. This leaves us questioning the idea of a Jersey boy being a spy, which ultimately undermines the notion we previously held that Wahlberg could successfully portray this role.

2024-08-16 03:17