I have had 22 Bullets on my shelf for a long time but have been hesitant to watch it. I have always had high hopes. The reason is that it is produced by Luc Besson, one of my favorites when it comes to French films. At the same time, the reason I haven’t seen it is precisely that it is a French film. Not that I have anything against them in any way, quite the opposite actually. But there has been a period in my life when I have had difficulty concentrating. And since I don’t speak French, I have to read the text… Yes, yes.. Long story, but now I have seen it anyway and I thought I would pass some kind of judgment on it.
Initially, it is a very beautiful film. Ultra violence is mixed with classical music that has a paradoxical effect that I really like. That is something that really attracts me. It is beautifully filmed and it doesn’t take long before you realize that the acting is fantastic, as it should be in a film of this type. This type of film means that you can easily be tempted to believe that it is an action film with a lot of shooting. However, that is not the case. I would classify it more as a drama where characters and plot are the focus.
There are beautiful sequences but at the same time it is a fabulously raw film in its depiction of violence. Charly Mattei (Jean Reno), who is a retired professional killer, is shot with 22 bullets at the beginning of the film. Hence the film’s title. However, he survives and goes after the only one who could possibly be behind the act. The rest of the film is more or less about revenge. Sometimes it is violent but most of the time it is smart. However, it can be said that in the end there is too much of a good thing.
The story drags on a bit too long and in the end it becomes a bit boring and overly sentimental. In addition, it doesn’t take an Einstein to calculate the morals that will end the film. In this way, the story may be a bit boring and in the end way too sentimental. Anyway, I’m still glad that I finally saw it. I think I could actually see it again. This despite the fact that it turned out to be predictable and moralizing in the end. The rating falls somewhere in the middle.
Our rating
