SAFE HOUSE
US, 2012, 115 minutes, Colour
Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Sheppard, Reuben Vladez, Robert Patrick, Liam Cunningham, Joel Kinnaman.
Directed by Daniel Espinosa.
National secret agencies, rogue operatives, surveillance and secrets – popular ingredients for espionage thrillers. Safe House takes up a story of the interior workings of agencies and dealing with agents who have betrayed their country, selling top level information.
The setting is South Africa and the film takes advantage of Cape Town locations as well as of the countryside. The rogue agent in question is Tobin Frost, played with his customary charm, intelligence and shrewdness by Denzel Washington. When he is taken by mercenaries, he escapes to the US consulate where he is transferred to a safe house with Ryan Reynolds as his keeper and where he is interrogated. However, the safe house is attacked and both men go on the run.
There are a number of scenes in Langley as supervising authorities try to control the flow of events. They are played by Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga and Brendan Gleeson. It is interesting to watch how the US manages matters in a distant country and the means of surveillance and communication.
Most of the film involves chases, Frost escaping into a crowded sports arena, the pursuit by mercenaries and a final confrontation and the revelation of the villain (not too hard to spot).
It works quite well, offers both interest and excitement, with Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds playing well off each other.
1. A political thriller? Agencies? Conspiracies?
2. The South African setting, the city of Cape Town, the streets, the embassy, the sports arena? The countryside and safe houses? Musical score?
3. Denzel Washington and his persona? As a double agent? Hero? Whistleblower?
4. The picture of the agencies, those in charge, the handlers of the field operatives? Langley and the authorities? Decision-making, subordinates, local agents, surveillance, international surveillance, the personal involvement, time difficulties in travel, double agents, rogues and exposes?
5. Tobin Frost, his age and experience, his work, the range of fieldwork in the past, going rogue, his secrets, contacts with other agencies? The CIA wanted list? His being pursued, his skills, remaining out of sight, going to the embassy, the mercenaries and his capture, the authorities? In the safe house? His stating that he was a guest and had to be protected?
6. Matt Weston in himself, his job, the background of his studies, recruited by the CIA, work in South Africa, his relationships, family, girlfriend? Contact with her? experience and inexperience? The job at the safe house? Encountering Tobin Frost? Knowing who he was, the meeting, the attack by the mercenaries, the escape, using his wits, his skill in fighting, his skill in driving? Going to the other safe houses? At the sports arena, Frost getting loose, his pursuing him, using his wits to get him again? The rapport between the two men? Suspicions?
7. Frost and his wits, his escape at the sports arena, disguise, the pursuit, being caught?
8. Weston and his contact with Langley, the time differences, Catherine Linklater, David Barlow? The authority of Harlin Whitford? The input into his activities? Their saying that they would take it on – and let him go? Knowing too much?
9. The discussions between Matt and Frost, advice, overcoming suspicions, the pursuit, going to the country? The new safe house? The guard and his betrayal? Barlow, the confrontation and final fight?
10. The mercenaries in Cape Town? The interrogation of Tobin Frost? By the CIA? The attack? The deaths of the agents? Barlow and his coming to Africa, killing Catherine Linklater? Going to the house, his own secrets, death?
11. Frost and his defence of Matt, his death, giving the information to Matt?
12. Matt and his interview with Harlin Whitford, debriefing, denial of any knowledge of the secret files?
13. The final information, the media, the whistleblower, anonymous – and the consequences for exposes of double agents and conspiracies and secrets?
