‘The old guard’ review The O’colly reviews a new netflix show
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C OV E R S T O RY
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REVIEW: NETFLIX’s The OLD GUARD J onat h an H arri n gto n ,
Staff reporter, @ ocolly
Netflix’s new action offering The Old Guard is desperate make it seem like its violence and dourness has a point. Instead director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s action film takes a solid cast, a cool concept, and some pretty scenes, and wastes them on a vapid, poorly constructed narrative that never rises out of its own misery long enough to be remotely enjoyable - let alone meaningful. The Old Guard follows a small group of “Immortals” – humans who automatically heal their wounds and come back from the dead. “Andy” (Charlize Theron) leads the crew as they seek out a new immortal and, later, come under attack from a pharmaceutical company that wants to use their genetic material for profit. This is a cool idea with a lot of potential, and indeed, moments in the movie live up to its concept – there are disturbing implications to an immortal existence that are explored in chilling ways. The choreography is especially impressive, as one might hope for fight scenes featuring immortal warriors: moments of impact hit hard, and takes are usually long enough for the action to feel seamless. The cinematography overall is quite competent, in fact. Apart from the fight scenes nothing is too fancy, but some locations are impressive, characters are well framed, and in general the presentation
MONDAY, JULY 26, 2020
draws you in. Unfortunately,
plores how the actions we have
aren’t compelling. Also worth
many scenes are filmed in dark
on the world do, in fact, have
noting is that actors mumble
or clinical locations, which
an effect, and how the impact
during the most crucial char-
naturally fail to stimulate and
of even singular relationships
acter moments of the movie,
contribute to the movie’s drab
can transform another’s life.
lessening the impact of the
tone.
It explores the acceptance of
rare surprises The Old Guard
duty.
has in store.
It is in its characters that The Old Guard really starts
These are powerful things to
to show its problems: none
explore. And indeed, character
Guard’s constant focus on
of the heroes are interesting.
decisions represent insight
abject misery is an attempt
The movie takes a group of
into these themes, themselves
to make the movie more
immortal super-warriors and
a product of where the plot
important, more meaningful.
turns them into mopey, miser-
brings the characters. The
This keeps it from being just
problem is that the ground-
a fun, campy action movie,
work is not laid appropriately:
but because of how poorly the
the plot meanders for half of
film is constructed, neither
the 2-hour run time, setting
is it a powerful, emotional
up characters, conflict, and
experience. It’s just kind of
stakes, but rarely putting the
depressing.
able, thoroughly uninteresting people. This is most obvious with the leader of the immortals, Theron’s Andy. She is an angry, pessimistic realist who – when she isn’t killing everyone around her – can be found explaining unhappy truths or reflecting on her unhappy life. Theron is a talented actress and has done well in previous action movies, but she plays Andy here with little to no charisma. Indeed, this character is frankly miserable to watch. Attempts to humanize her – Look! She likes dessert! – just cannot accomplish their task when almost all we see of her is unhappiness and misery and a tortured past. Don’t get me wrong, an immortal warrior is a hard character to humanize on pretty much every level, but focusing exclusively sympathy alone does not make a compelling character. And unfortunately, the other characters don’t contrast against her in any meaningful way. The Old Guard compliments its depressed action hero with – get this – other sad, serious action heroes. A few of these characters
Netflix’s “The Old Guard” released the other day.
Netflix
have some sense of humor, at
somehow a bright spot in this
least, but their characterization
sea of emotionless dreck.
is based on a few token quali-
But here is the real problem.
ties to set them apart, rather
Movies are always about
than actual, engaging, unique
something: you cannot present
personalities. The actors play
a narrative, a series of events
them fine enough, but neither
with characters responding
do they succeed in the hard
to those events and influenc-
work of making them interest-
ing them, without delivering
ing. Matthias Schoenaerts as
insight about humanity. One
Booker comes closest, as he
way or another, the worldview
exudes something approaching
of those creating the movie
charisma.
will come out in how character
The other main character
decisions are presented, in the
is Kiki Lane’s Nile, a former
nature of the world the char-
Marine who must grapple with
acters occupy, and the people
being an immortal. She has by
who surround them.
far the most potential for com-
This leads movies to have
pelling character exploration
themes – human challenges,
and growth, but it is squan-
moral issues, political or social
dered pretty thoroughly - not
controversies – which are
least because she also is overly
explored by how characters in-
self-serious, her primary
teract with each other and the
character trait that she is a sad
world around them. Compe-
badass who – get this – has a
tent movies are aware of this,
tortured past.
designing their plot and world
The villains are honestly the
to best compliment character
high point of the movie. Chi-
development in a way which
wetal Ejiofer is as riveting as
most forcefully illustrates their
he ever is, and he gets the most
themes.
interesting character develop-
This is where The Old
ment in The Old Guard. Harry
Guard comes up short. The
Melling, as the president of the
film has pretensions of deep
pharmaceutical corporation,
themes: it is interested in the
plays his character with real
importance, inevitability, and
personality, his cheery sadism
acceptance of mortality. It ex-
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characters in positions where
Presumably The Old
Finally, there is the music,
they have to grapple with
which on all accounts is poorly
these questions or change their
done. Generic sad music is
mindset. Only Nile gets this
blasted during emotional mo-
chance, but she has so little
ments of the film, which ac-
agency as to make her devel-
centuates the film’s inability to
opment feel empty, and the
create actual emotion. Mean-
exploration of her grappling
while indie music plays during
with immortality feels rushed
more exciting moments, a
and predictable.
stylistic choice that clashes
The narrative remains
with the tone of literally ev-
inadequate once the plot kicks
erything else in the movie and
into gear. Relationships central
serves only to distract from the
to the theme of individuals
scenes it tries to enliven.
transforming others’ lives
The Old Guars features
feel contrived and rushed, as
so much talent and so many
are characters’ acceptance of
fascinating ideas, yet it throws
mortality. And the recognition
it all away thanks to the ag-
of one’s positive impact on
gressive mediocrity of the
the world hardly matters to the
characters and narrative. Do
movie’s events. There is less
not get me wrong – the movie
development in these areas
does enough right to be an
than there are abrupt changes
acceptable quarantine watch
in characters’ mindset, which
for those absolutely starved for
are only sometimes tied to the
big budget action movies, and
plot. This makes the movie’s
maybe it delivers exactly what
crucial moments feel unearned
it promises: a cool premise,
and uninteresting.
impressive production values,
And again: the impact of the
and a few cool fights. But for
film is lessened because the
the most part it is simply mis-
characters on their own simply
erable, for no reason at all.
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Horoscope
FOR RELEASE JULY 27, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (07/27/20). Strength, fitness and health expand this year. Consistent efforts win the prize. Professional plot twists abound. Realizing longheld dreams this summer inspires new directions with your work and fitness. Winter brings community challenges requiring adaptation, while love, family, fun and romance flower. Build healthy practices. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Work together to overcome a financial challenge with a joint venture. Vague rumors or illusions dissipate upon inspection. Follow rules carefully. Provide stability. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Share the load. Get around an obstacle by collaborating and coordinating your moves. Reality doesn’t match a rosy fantasy. Adapt to messes in real time. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Physical action gets results, although barriers block the path. A fantasy dissipates in the light. Watch the road ahead carefully. Slow for tight corners. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — A romantic fantasy doesn’t match the current reality. Laugh at absurdity when it reveals itself. Adapt to unexpected circumstances. Share and support each other. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Listen to family to find out what’s needed at home. Make a repair or upgrade to keep systems flowing. Unplanned interruptions require attention. Enjoy something delicious. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Misunderstandings slow the action. Patiently untangle a mess with a creative project. Clarify and shift the message to suit current conditions. Issue statements. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Words and actions could collide. Slow down to maintain positive cash flow. Send invoices and statements. Pay bills and debts. Rushing leads to mistakes. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Adapt to changes with a personal project. Things don’t look the way you planned. Polish and beautify. A style upgrade goes a long way. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Complete old tasks. Sort and organize to clean up a mess. Clear past projects from your workspace to make room for what’s ahead. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Things work better together. Cooperation is integral to navigate current uncertainties. Provide a steady shoulder for a friend to lean on. Help each other. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Create your own professional breakthrough. Old dreams seem distant, while new opportunities hide under challenges. Observe and prepare. Dress the part. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Investigate options for exploration. Wait for better conditions to embark. Thorough preparation is essential. Traffic and delays discourage travel. There are many ways to connect.
Level 1
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7/27/20
Solution to Saturday’s puzzle
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
ACROSS 1 Really easy task 6 Serious cut 10 Sect. on a concert ticket 14 In flames 15 Brink 16 Dodgers or Cubs 17 Chicago-based improv group, with “The” 19 Semester 20 Bit of memorabilia 21 Bee secretion 22 Camera type, for short 23 Imagined barrier between actor and audience 28 Old fast fliers 30 Dallas region inset on a Texas atlas page, e.g. 31 Really tiny 32 Photographed 33 Fingers in a lineup 34 Beethoven’s “Pastoral” or Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” 38 Philip of “Kung Fu” 39 Regrets 40 Barely make, with “out” 41 Pool stick protector 43 Lat. and Ukr., formerly 45 Musical symbol also called a quaver 47 Hoopla 50 Fairway position 51 Mattress you can “float” on 54 Fellow, to a Brit 56 When Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson, in a classic 1990 bout 58 Fastening device 59 “Not a __”: “No idea” 60 Pasta sauce herb 61 Online craft shop 62 Conks on the head 63 Outlaw, to a sheriff
7/27/20
By Matt McKinley
DOWN 1 Oak containers 2 “It’s my opinion ... ” 3 More kind 4 Farm yield 5 Farm cluckers 6 Lizards like the Geico mascot 7 French farewell 8 Cpl.’s superior 9 “Psst!” 10 Canada’s capital 11 Check out again, as a patient 12 Train unit 13 “I’m thinking” 18 Bonkers 21 If 24 Obama chief of staff Emanuel 25 Stadium in St. Pete, with “The” 26 Gaga or Godiva 27 Record albums, briefly 28 Census datum 29 Unvarying fee 31 Cabernet holder 32 NES part: Abbr. 34 Feng __
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
35 “Quiet!” 36 Observed 37 Approves 38 Royal flush card 42 Marked by contentiousness, as a game 43 Idaho and Iowa 44 Actor Rogen 46 Admit (to) 47 Seriously overdo, as a privilege
7/27/20
48 Dungarees fabric 49 “Strange to say ... ” 52 Kathryn of “Law & Order: C.I.” 53 Equine hue 54 Michael of “SNL” 55 Stetson __ 56 Getting the job done, initially 57 “Xanadu” rock gp.