Review of Survivor (2015) by Patrick L — 19 Aug 2015

"I survived my screening of "Survivor" by watching it on demand. That's good but it's still a lame thriller".

Movie Review: Survivor.

Date Viewed: May 29 2015.

Directed By James McTeigue (Ninja Assassin and V for Vendetta).

Written By Philip Shelby.

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Milla Jovovich, Dylan McDermott, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, James D'Arcy and Frances de la Tour.

My Worst Movies of the Year list just keeps piling up. "Survivor" is a lame thriller with actors who look bored out of their minds, Direct-to-DVD production values, choppy editing and poor action scenes. I survived my screening of "Survivor" by watching it on my iPad at home. It's available on demand, that's good but it's still a lame thriller. You shouldn't waste your precious 96 minutes on a movie that knows nothing about combating terrorism or even espionage.

Set in a post 9/11 era, "Survivor" stars Milla Jovovich (Really! You guys couldn't find a better actress than her?) as Kate Abbott, an employee for the American Embassy in London. She began working for the government after most of her friends were killed on 9/11. While attending a restaurant for the birthday of her superior, Bill Talbot (Robert Forster), Kate becomes the target of assassination by a hired killer named The Watchmaker. HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! That name is so hilarious, a talented actor would stay away from that role. I'm sorry, WHAT! They got Pierce Brosnan to play the ruthless assassin? What drove him into doing this?

Anyways, The Watchmaker detonates an explosive device inside the restaurant killing almost everybody inside. Kate survives the explosion but she get framed for the attack. While trying to avoid government capture and outrun the Watchmaker, Kate uncovers a plot to detonate the New Year's Eve ball at Times Square. The screenplay by Philip Shelby is ludicrous and the muddled and patronizing messages of post 9/11 are so laughable, "Survivor" could've been written by Dick Cheney.

The actors do their best elevate much of this dumb material as possible but that isn't saying a lot to Milla Jovovich's resume, she continues to make poor choices. Next year, she'll be back as Alice in the final chapter of the "Resident Evil" franchise. Come on Milla! You have one more "Resident Evil" movie left to finish. Pierce Brosnan is clearly having a ball here as The Watchmaker but his performance in "Survivor" won't get him an Oscar nomination.

Oh yeah, Dylan McDermott and Angela Bassett are also in this mess too. I'm sure good paychecks had something to do with them being in this movie. Believe it or not, Emma Thompson was supposed to be in "Survivor" as well but she gave director James McTeigue's (V for Vendetta) spy thriller a thumbs down and dropped out of production. Good for her.