Hardcore HenryEver wondered what it would be like to see things from the perspective of a mute amnesiac cybernetic parkour action hero in a semi-futuristic Russia? Well, with Hardcore Henry, you can put yourself in the shoes of a highly efficient killer (Henry), seeking answers to an evil conspiracy led by a psychokinetic villain named Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), while trying to save the lovely Estelle (Haley Bennett)--who apparently brought our hero back from the brink of death and outfitted him in robotic prosthesis. Aside from the enigmatic aid of a semi-immortal and chameleon-like supporter named Jimmy (Sharlto Copley), Henry must fend for himself, fighting off waves of mercenaries while racing toward the end of his increasingly complex mission.
|
|
Hardcore Henry is a fast-paced action flick shot almost entirely from a first-person point-of-view, namely that of the eponymous Henry. But the film uses this cinematic technique less to garner sympathy for Henry's predicament and more to emphasize the constant adrenaline rush that comes from being constantly thrown into lightning quick fights almost without reprieve. This constant bombardment of over-the-top gun fights and martial arts makes Hardcore Henry resemble a video game more than a movie, especially one from the "first-person shooter" genre. (At one point, Jimmy is dressed in a "ghillie suit"; gamers will recognize these as the same camouflage prominently featured in "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare".) The combination of bloody hand-to-hand combat, elaborate takedowns, and the daring acrobatics Henry performs while traversing through Moscow also draws comparisons between the "Far Cry" and "Mirror's Edge" series of video games. Hardcore Henry makes great strides in delivering a kind of interactive action experience, and doesn't let things like "plausibility" or "restraint" get in the way of some outrageous set pieces. And by conveniently depriving Henry of almost any backstory, this invites the audience to project themselves onto Henry. Things start out rough for Henry, aside from his memory loss; he awakens to find that his left arm and leg have been severed, although cool robot replacements are welded on right away. But just when he's about to get a new synthesized voice, Akan attacks and wreaks havoc on Estelle's airborne base of operations. Akan is a deliberately cliche villain, with his wispy--almost white--blonde hair, nigh-skeletal build, and cruel streak, not to mention his penchant for turtlenecks and skinny slacks that seem to define an ensemble of arrogance. Henry has several encounters with the telekinetic villain, and each instance feels like a "cut scene" or "quick-time event" from the aforementioned video games--the kind where the player doesn't really have much (if any) control. Subsequently, Henry gets thrown (often literally) into a new "level", populated with new enemies to fight off. These range from the mercenaries that kidnap Estelle, corrupt cops, and--at one point--various incarnations of Jimmy that respawn, as if they were "camping" near Henry's location. Even Jimmy's "avatars" are another direct nod to the video game influence circulating through the veins of Hardcore Henry.
Shooting from a first-person point-of-view creates an entirely different kind of cinematic experience for the audience. (Presented by Universal Studios, I wouldn't be surprised to see Hardcore Henry eventually turned into a roller coaster ride at their theme parks.) The film is loaded with action; combining this with the movie's few instances of exposition means that character development takes a back seat. What little memory Henry has of his past involves a brief flashback to something from his childhood, where he is bullied by a trio of kids who smash his toy against a wall. When Henry revisits this memory later, he recalls his father (Tim Roth) chiding him about letting himself be bullied, who then tells him to stand up and fight. (Unsurprisingly, this introduces one of the most elaborate fight scenes in Hardcore Henry, set to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now", no less.) Hardcore Henry capitalizes on this narrative paucity by exploiting audience expectations about who is trustworthy based on superficial information, especially when they speak right to the audience--with Henry playing the part of the proverbial "fourth wall". Another facet of the first-person point-of-view is that it makes the audience feel like they are experiencing the action first-hand. (Don't be surprised if you reach for the Dramamine or get tense at some of the more elaborate parkour sequences, like when Henry scales the wall of a building and almost falls.) Aside from some editing trickery, Hardcore Henry is presented as though it were shot in one continuous take. Considering how many locales Henry visits during the film's relatively short length, this means that Henry is almost always running from place to place, scene to scene. To create the first-person experience, "Henry" is performed by several stuntmen outfitted with a camera rig and GoPro cameras. With the exception of some obvious scenes involving Henry's cybernetic implants, what Henry does was actually performed by these stuntmen. Equipped with this knowledge, the experience of watching Hardcore Henry changes from a traditional narrative to one more akin to a virtual reality amusement park ride.
Recommended for: Fans of an action movie that has more in common with a virtual reality amusement park ride. Hardcore Henry is often very bloody and full of constant violence and mature content, and is best suited for adults who appreciate its unique mix of adrenaline-packed action, black comedy, and self-aware video game roots.
Shooting from a first-person point-of-view creates an entirely different kind of cinematic experience for the audience. (Presented by Universal Studios, I wouldn't be surprised to see Hardcore Henry eventually turned into a roller coaster ride at their theme parks.) The film is loaded with action; combining this with the movie's few instances of exposition means that character development takes a back seat. What little memory Henry has of his past involves a brief flashback to something from his childhood, where he is bullied by a trio of kids who smash his toy against a wall. When Henry revisits this memory later, he recalls his father (Tim Roth) chiding him about letting himself be bullied, who then tells him to stand up and fight. (Unsurprisingly, this introduces one of the most elaborate fight scenes in Hardcore Henry, set to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now", no less.) Hardcore Henry capitalizes on this narrative paucity by exploiting audience expectations about who is trustworthy based on superficial information, especially when they speak right to the audience--with Henry playing the part of the proverbial "fourth wall". Another facet of the first-person point-of-view is that it makes the audience feel like they are experiencing the action first-hand. (Don't be surprised if you reach for the Dramamine or get tense at some of the more elaborate parkour sequences, like when Henry scales the wall of a building and almost falls.) Aside from some editing trickery, Hardcore Henry is presented as though it were shot in one continuous take. Considering how many locales Henry visits during the film's relatively short length, this means that Henry is almost always running from place to place, scene to scene. To create the first-person experience, "Henry" is performed by several stuntmen outfitted with a camera rig and GoPro cameras. With the exception of some obvious scenes involving Henry's cybernetic implants, what Henry does was actually performed by these stuntmen. Equipped with this knowledge, the experience of watching Hardcore Henry changes from a traditional narrative to one more akin to a virtual reality amusement park ride.
Recommended for: Fans of an action movie that has more in common with a virtual reality amusement park ride. Hardcore Henry is often very bloody and full of constant violence and mature content, and is best suited for adults who appreciate its unique mix of adrenaline-packed action, black comedy, and self-aware video game roots.