GEMINI MAN
US, 2019, 117 minutes, Colour.
Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owens, Benedict Wong, Linda Emond.
Directed by Ang Lee.
This Gemini Man is not a twin, rather two Will Smith’s for the price of one. Gemini is actually the name of the company specialising in military hardware, investigating the possibilities of cloning, drawing on the DNA of expert assassins, ultimately trying to edit out of their products any human emotions that would undermine deadly efficiency.
Which means that this thriller has some interesting philosophical and moral underpinnings. And, perhaps this is to be expected because it is a film directed by Ang Lee, two Best Director Oscars to his name, Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. With Ang Lee, each film is very different from the others, with his being unpredictable in what genre he will work on next. This thriller follows an anti-war film, Billy Lynn, and his next is announced as a dramatising the third fight between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier, in Manila.
For the action fans, there is plenty going on. It opens with an assassination, Henry Brogan (Will Smith) fires at target in a moving train 2 km away. And now, he intends to retire. However, as we anticipate, it will not be so easy, especially with the deceptive setup of this first assassination and the person killed.
While Henry tries to retire to the Georgia coast, he is almost immediately set on by assassins, encountering a young woman working on the piers, Mary Elizabeth Winstead in quite a strong role, able to take part in the ensuing confrontations and battles. And, battles there are.
Almost immediately we are in Colombia, in the streets of Cartagena, especially for the staging of quite a spectacular motorcycle chase through the streets – and the glimpse of a mysterious assassin who anticipates Henry’s moves and who looks remarkably like him. (This is not a spoiler because the promotion of Gemini Man relies on the fact that Will Smith has two roles, older and younger, thanks to technology, the younger looking like and acting like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air – and a good tribute to Smith’s abilities of performance when the two interact.)
While we have enjoyed the trip to Cartagena along with all its risks, there is another treat in store for us, a visit to Hungary, to Budapest, the streets, the old political buildings, the churches, crypts and basements. And, dramatic shootouts and physical fights. Which should satisfy the action customers.
Of course, in the background are a number of sinister figures, political advisers, spymasters, living in a world of deceit and cover-up. Prominent amongst these is Clive Owen as the owner and developer of the Gemini Enterprises. Which raises interesting aspects of cloning, human relationships, father-son relationships, and the development of a clone assassin.
Gemini Man is available in 3-D +, further experiments in deepening 3-D clarity. However, the film will be probably quite popular in ordinary formats as well.
1. The title? Expectations? A film from Ang Lee?
2. The future? Developments in technology, weapons, war and politics?
3. The international settings, Belgium and its fields and the train, Georgia and the house on the coast, the yacht, Colombia, this Cartagena and its streets, Hungary and Budapest, streets, political buildings, churches, basements? The Gemini headquarters? The musical score?
4. Introduction to Henry Brogan, Will Smith older? The preparation for the assassination, the countryside, the train, the agent in the train and surveillance, the target? Henry as veteran, his record, some hesitation?
5. Del, the officials, the discussion about the target, the mystery, the identity? Lassiter, Master spy, her role, personality? The talks with Clay Verris, his influence, covert operations?
6. Henry, his age, wanting to retire, repairing his house, the contact with Del, the contact with Jack, on the yacht, the girl? The information about Hungary? The attack, their deaths?
7. Danny, her work on the pier, Henry suspicious, the follow-through, the truth? The attacks, his defending her, Baron, the friendship from the past, the escape?
8. Going to Columbia, the impact of the city, the group and the attack, the mysterious assassin, the chase? The introduction to Henry’s clone? The clone knowing the detail of Henry’s manoeuvres? The details of the fight?
9. Flying to Hungary, the city, the basement, the buildup to the confrontation, setting Danny up, the wireless device and the clone missing it? The elaborate fight and its details and choreography?
10. The clone, going back to the compound, discussions with Clay Verris? His age, life, the father figure, the exhortations and encouragement, the puzzle, the clone and his disbelief?
11. Danny, her personality, strong, a partner for Henry? Support?
12. The return, the confrontation with Clay Verris, the clone? His taking a stand? The shooting of the vehicle, Baron’s death?
13. The impact of the confrontation between the two Henry’s? The younger and the older, the contrast in performance?
14. The clone wanting to kill Clay Verris, Henry warning him off, Henry shooting him? The consequences for Del and Lassiter and their collaboration?
15. Six months passing, the younger Henry and his studies, the campus? The meeting with Henry and Danny? A peaceful future or not?
