By Shane Conto
What do movie fans on the internet get excited about more than a crazy transformation of an actor for a movie role? Honestly, not many things. The second photos of Blake Lively came out for The Rhythm Section, the internet was a buzz as Lively’s movie star good looks and impeccable fashion were thrown away for a rugged and world-weary look. Lively was becoming an action star! And throw a little Jude Law in for good measure and you got people jazzed for the film. Then the trailer dropped and they told audiences they were going to get a January release for the film…red flag time. But one thing is for certain, Blake Lively came to play in Reed Morano’s film. By far the best and most memorable aspect of this film is the game performance from Lively. She gives her all to this role where she gets to be vulnerable and broken, emotional and shaken, intense and sexy. The role hits many different points on the acting range. Jude Law is a welcomed addition to the film as well.
The unfortunately reality for this film though is that it just doesn’t get out of first gear. I will admit there are a few scenes and sequences that send some energy the audience’s way. But those scenes are seldom and far between. A particular sequence of hand to hand combat between an unrelenting teacher, Law, and his driven student, Lively. In the end though, Morano does not get this film out of neutral. This film is zapped of energy and drive leaving you as an audience member just there to sit and plod through this story hoping that something happens. The pacing is atrocious and this leads the film to just feel boring. What can a film do that is more damaging than boring its audience?
The story starts in a state of great potential as you are given a strong emotional hook to the story. Lively plays a woman whose whole family is killed in a plane attack. And what does she want? Revenge. But a story needs more than potential to work and what this story delivers is a string of clichés and nothing that is inherently unique and impressive. This story goes by in slow motion and you can predict the trajectory at every turn.
Even from a filmmaking perspective, The Rhythm Section can’t seem to deliver. There is something clunky and uneven about the whole affair. The tone is confusing as the visual are bleak and the characters actions are intense yet a song right out of Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood starts blaring on and off. Some of the musical choices seem so misguided that it is more jarring than exciting.
With all this being said, it appears we have another stereotypical January thriller on our hands. There might have been potential, with a few aspects that actually deliver, but this effort mostly squanders that potential. The Rhythm Section is yet another addition to the long history of January misfires.