Jolt - Movie Review
What do you get when you take a cast that’s a mix of character actors and Hollywood legends and swirl them into Sci-Fi mashup of John Wick, Mystery Men, and Girl Interrupted?
A surprisingly heartfelt, grounded super hero film that could fit alongside Unbreakable and Split.
Let’s discuss.
Jolt is a 2021 science fiction, superhero revenge film brought to us by director Tanya Wexler and writer Scott Wascha. I know, not blockbuster names. I mean, Wascha is super fun to say… Wascha, Wascha, Wascha… But he has one credit. Guess what that is? Wexler’s story is much more interesting. She’s kind of a cinematic gunslinger. She pops up, makes a movie that’s well received, and then vanishes from whence she came. It’s so strange, but I’ve seen a handful of the projects she’s worked on, Relative Evil (Mainly because I watch anything and everything Ethan Embry appears in) and 2011's Hysteria being the main ones that come to mind. She kinda just does what she wants, when she wants to. In my eyes, that almost makes me want to watch whatever she comes out with next. Every project is so different. Plus, she's got a great smile.
But I digress...
This film is quality.
BUT JAI COURTNEY IS IN IT!! I hear you screaming at your computer, phone, and/or smart watch screen.
(If anyone actually reads this on their smart watch... DM me on instagram. I will send you a signed copy of whichever of my books you want. You legend.)
Yes, Jai Courtney “stars” in this, but there’s a caveat. The filmmakers understood the limitations of said actor and put him firmly in the margins.
That’s not a spoiler.
Well, you’re wrong.
Can I just write my review?
Thank you.
What I mean to say is, Courtney isn’t a main focus. This is Kate Beckinsale’s film through and through and she knocks it out of the park. She gets to do something in this film that Underworld didn’t let her. She gets to be herself.
If you didn’t know, Kate Beckinsale is a saucy minx. She’s a potty mouthed British dame who doesn’t give a fuck. If you’ve seen her in interviews, she doesn’t even try to hide the fact that she likes a good time. More over, she doesn’t care what other people think. From sucking face with Pete Davidson (what the hell?!) at a Lakers game to talking about her masturbatory habits, she just rolls her own way. It’s part of the reason I see her movies, even when I know they are going to be terrible.
I see you, TipToes.
Her character feels organic, fluid, and unpredictable. It’s refreshing. So often we see the male antagonist in these type of films be low-key, a loser. It was so exciting to get a female character who is actually behaving like a woman. I married a feisty red-headed woman of Irish descent. She doesn’t take shit from anyone. Most of the women I surround myself with are just as quick to go off the handle as I am, more so at certain times of the month. It’s what makes women so enthralling.
They are natures beauty and ferocity all in one.
Which is what this film illustrates.
The rest of the cast is incredible as well. Laverne Cox and the always dependable Bobby Cannavale need their own buddy cop film. I love that they used Laverne Cox not just for representation of the trans community, but as an actual showcase character. She has some of the best lines in the film, one of which caused both my viewing partner Leslie and I to laugh out loud in unison.
Why can’t more films cast trans actors and have them be actual fleshed out characters? Get on it Hollywood.
Alright, Alright, I’ll get to the synopsis.
The film centers on out of work bouncer with a shady past, Lindy, played by Beckinsale. She’s just trying to live her life one day at a time while coming to grip with a neurological / hormonal disorder she’s carried from birth. She has an anomalous form of Explosive Personality Disorder. Basically, her fight or flight instinct is always on. She lives in a constant state of adrenaline rush that gives her almost superhuman speed, dexterity, and strength. She’s the Incredible Hulk in a compact, gorgeous package. Following the advice of her therapist, played by screen legend Stanley Tucci, she goes on a date. Every date she’s been on in her life has ended in bloodshed, but to her surprise, this new guy is different. Unfortunately, he’s also dead shortly after they consummate their relationship. Thus, Lindy sets out to discover why he was killed and who pulled the trigger. On the run from the mob, the police, and shadowy government agents, will Lindy solve the mystery and take her revenge, or will she end up in a wood chipper? Find out in tonight’s feature, JOLT.
It’s simple, but that’s not a bad thing. Films like Nobody and John Wick are simple and fucking incredible.
The human mind needs simple, especially during a pandemic, and worse—the era of social media. There was no better time for the craft of film than the 90’s. If you say any other decade, you’re wrong. The 90’s had more good movies than any other decade.
Don’t you even say it. The 80’s is overhyped. Half the movies released were basically music videos.
The 90’s brought the freedom of VHS to the masses. We got Cannon Films, Orion Home Video, Full Moon Productions and many more. We got things we’d never seen… and things we will hopefully never see again, but most importantly…
We got true ACTION!
Jolt is a child of that.
Pssssssssssssssssss…
SPOILERS!
There are a few things that don’t work in the movie. Jai Courtney is the main offender—to no one’s surprise. It’s not even his fault. He’s actually likable at the beginning of the film. Which, if you’ve seen him in the majority of his other projects… is a shock. His acting is normally somewhere between Bond villain and a block of wood. He’s also typecast as a villain. The only film I can remember where he played the hero was Terminator: Genysis and the less we say about that turd, the better. It’s blatantly obvious that he’s the main villain. The film tries to hide it, but you can’t because… Jai Courtney. I called that he was the villain as soon as he popped up on the screen and Leslie can verify that.
The other item that really stuck out for me is controversial. I don’t say that to lessen the blow, or to justify my opinion, but to let you, the reader, know that I understand that my opinion may sound mean. It’s not. It’s an honest appraisal of the filmmaking. Kate Beckinsale has obviously had work done. You can see it in the juxtoposition of her neck and face. Her face is twenty years younger than her hands and neck, and the lighting team and camera crew made poor decisions in shooting her. When shot from the correct angles, Beckinsale looks incredible. Whoever did her work was top notch. However, there are still telltale signs and flaws. For the first half of the movie they shoot Kate Beckinsale at the Underworld angle. It’s her best angle, why not use it? In the second half of the film, it felt like they got lazy in setting up the shots, because Beckinsale is showcased in some awful angles where you can see where the fillers are in her face. In one scene that is meant to be heartfelt, all we could talk about was how her face looked like a mask pasted over her skull, because her ocular bones were clearly visible and emphasized by makeup and lighting. If you actor has a patented angle, like the Underworld angle, stick to it for Christ sake.
You let Kate down.
Are you proud of yourself?
Please see this movie. It ends with a cliff hanger and I’d love to see how it wraps up. Stream it exclusively on Amazon Prime.
PS. Ms. Beckinsale, I love you. Stay saucy.
