Denzel Washington doesn’t seem to push himself often enough anymore. Lately most of the characters he portrays seem to be way too similar. With that confident strut and too-cool-for-school smile, which is supposed to show that he is either smarter than everyone else around or that his is a bit crazy. Washington is giving us just another retread performance in the new film SAFE HOUSE that we have seen from him countless times. Does that make this a bad movie? Not by any means, it is just as entertaining as Washington’s other mediocre but enjoyable films like MAN ON FIRE and THE BOOK OF ELI.
In the new action-thriller SAFE HOUSE, Washington plays Tobin Frost, a legendary CIA ex-intelligence officer who is wanted for supposedly selling military codes to the highest bidding enemies of the US. Having eluded capture for nearly a decade, Frost suddenly turns up at the U.S. embassy in Cape Town to turn himself in. Naturally this puzzles CIA branch Chief Catherine Linklater (Vera Farmiga), Case Officer David Barlow (Brendan Gleeson), and CIA Deputy Director of Operations Harlan Whitford (Sam Shepard). They know that Frost does not do anything without a reason.
Frost is quickly taken to a safe house which is run by housekeeper Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), an agent who spends most of his time in an empty location by himself just hoping to become case officer by proving himself as a loyal company man. Things suddenly change for Weston when his first and only occupant checks into the safe house. As you can guess, it’s Tobin Frost. Just moments after Frost checks in, the safe house is compromised and Weston flees the not-so-secure location with Frost in hand.
The biggest problem with SAFE HOUSE is how predictable it is. The audience can see the films twist in the final act from a mile away. If you have ever watched a film like this before, you know exactly how it’s going to play out. Washington is of course entertaining and Reynolds is good here as well, playing an agent who has the “do the right thing” ideology. As much as I like Reynolds smart-ass attitude in most of his comedies, I think he is best to play it straight in his more serious rolls like this one.
There is plenty of action and SAFE HOUSE never slows down or drags its feet. The screenplay is sub-par but the cast and director Daniel Espinosa keep things moving and fun. We are not treated to anything new or exceptional with SAFE HOUSE, but if you are looking for a decent film to entertain you, this is not a bad choice.
By: Marc Ferman
