22 Bullets (2010)

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

If you don't speak or understand French, don't watch this movie. The translation in the subtitles is atrocious. Seems like the translator couldn't speak a lick of French or knew very little English.Movie starts out OK but bogs down trying to justify too much Jean Reno's role as Charlie, a nice man with high morales that just happens to have been (focus on the pas tense) a vicious mob boss. Good story, and Jean Reno keeps it moving in the last 30 minutes. I kinda hoped that the lady detective would play a more active role and at least killed somebody, but at least she didn't meddle too much in Charlie's payback.

22 BULLETS (aka THE IMMORTAL) is based on the true story -- but doesn't let that hold it back. After Jean Reno gets the titular 22 cases of lead poisoning he understandably comes out of retirement for revenge. So yeah, he's a 'good' gangster (no drugs) and the story hits familiar beats (it's just a matter of time until someone in his family gets kidnapped) but it's still a slick piece of entertainment that lives off Reno's weary stare. Sometimes he comes across as too much of a machine (even a paralysed arm barely seems to slow him down) and there's a predictability to the way in which he has to hunt down the eight gunmen who shot him but the Mediterranean locations are gorgeous, the violence is suitably furious and there's lots of great actors in the supporting cast (who wouldn't sit shiva for the widowed Jewish cop-ess?).

Jean Reno is...simply Jean Reno. If you do not like his acting, don't waste your time with this gangster film. If you do appreciate him and if you are familiar with the area around Marseille and, even better, if you like Marseille, this film is a must. If you know French and appreciate dialects, watch this film.The feel-good (in relative terms..there is nothing mentioned about PTSD here...) ending does not hurt, I was waiting for half the film for the revenge and for Charley Matteï do save his family.I was also wondering if the place on the coast where he hid was the same as used in "La Grand Bleue" (remember one of the first major films with Jean Reno?). Would be a funny wink if it was.

The reason I decided to watch the film was mainly the participation of Jean Reno. However, the overall taste fell below my expectations.The most disturbing issue in the movie is the existence of roles (actors) which offer nothing to the plot. For example, would it make any difference in the story if Jean Reno had only one wife or none instead of two? Do you actually remember the name and the participation of the third member of the three children which then comprise the mafia gang?Moreover, the movie seems very predictable and Jean Reno very old for this kind of story. However, he is the one who survives from this bad and indifferent movie.To conclude, I think that there is nothing to remember from this film which seems to count only on the leading actor. Disappointment!