THE OLD GUARD

US, 2020, 123 minutes, Colour.
Charlize Theron, Ki Ki Layne, Mathias Schoonaerts, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Harry Melling, Anamaria Marinca,
Directed by Gina Prince- Blythewood.

The Old Guard seems a rather prosaic and unimaginative title for a story about immortal warriors. However, the screenplay is based on a graphic novel written by Greg Rucka who also wrote the screenplay for the film.

What might appear credible in a graphic novel and its sketches and illustrations is a challenge for the screen, for realistic characters, for credible action even if it is heightened with immortality. On the whole, the film is successful in the performances for the old guard. Charlize Theron has appeared in a number of action films in the past, including Aeon Flux and the Atomic Blonde. She is joined by an international group, Belgian Matthias Schoenaerts as her long centuries partner, Dutch Marwan Kenzari and Italian Luca Marinelli as two who killed each other during the Crusades. The film indicates their long history, Andy (Theron), Andromeda, coming from the era of Greek history.

There are no real explanations as to how these warrior guardian angels of humanity were designated with immortality and military prowess since there is no acknowledgement of God or divine powers. They are just there, discovering that however many times they are injured and killed, sometimes quite devastatingly as we see in an initial episode in South Sudan, they recover and continue on their way. There are some flashbacks, especially concerning two women during the Inquisition, about to be burnt at the stake, one imprisoned alive in a kind of iron lung and dropped to the bottom of the sea (spoiler: she appears moment for the end a sure indication of sequel intentions!).

While there were very busy, as indicated by dialogue and by photos and images, they were present in the Napoleonic wars as well as the American Civil War, with quite a lot to do in the crises of the 20th century. A touch different in the 21st-century – a young megalomaniac science entrepreneur (Harry Melling) is desperate to capture them in order to get their DNA, flesh and blood samples for his laboratory to discover the secret of immortality. His approach is mercenary. However, he is approached by a CIA agent, Copley (Chiwitel Ejiofor), whose wife has died tragically, and his promise of capturing the old guard.

We see them in action in the set up in South Sudan. But, there is much more to the plot. Off to Afghanistan, a local confrontation by Marines, the women in the village indicating where the men are hiding, the leading Marine, Nile Freeman (Ki Ki Layne), capturing the man, but he suddenly slitting her throat. Yes, she heals, she is the new guard of the immortals.

There is action in France where the immortals hide in an abandoned village. There are pursued by the industrial company militia. There are scenes in England, in London, at the site of the laboratories, building up to a climax where two of the immortals have been captured and are subject to experimentation. Andy, always the strong leader, gives Nile the opportunity to leave. A chance, but not a chance, as she returns and it is she who will have to confront the villain – and a risky tactic to destroy him, fortunately with her immortality, not destroying her.

A Netflix release, directed by a female director, Gina Prince- Blythewood, hugely successful in streaming and, within days of release, serious discussions about sequels.

1. Popular film? Netflix release? Based on graphic novels? The creator of the novels writing the screenplay?

2. The plausibility of the plot? Selected individuals? No reasons given for their immortality? The fact? Their mission? Entering into warrior situations, the success? Greek history? The Crusades? The Middle Ages? The Napoleonic wars, the American Civil War? The 20th century and crises? The 21st-century? Audiences accepting this premise?

3. 21st-century War settings, Morocco, South Sudan, Afghanistan, situations in France, London? The war situations, battles, weapons and tactics? The introduction to the industrialists, Merrick and the search for immortality?

4. The CIA, Copley, the contact with the group, giving them a mission, the abduction of children, South Sudan, the group going on mission, the setup to capture them, the attack, their all being killed, providing? Turning the tables?

5. Copley, the later revelation of his motivation, the death of his wife, wanting some kind of help, contacting Merrick and his company? The goal to capture the immortals and get their samples, DNA, blood? His ambition, single-minded? His private army? His headquarters, London, the laboratory? The associate doctor?

6. The personalities of the group? Charlize Theron as the leader, her long Greek history, throughout the millennia? Her personality, strong? Booker, his background story, his wife, his various exploits? The second in charge? Loyalty to Andy, the shock of his betrayal? Nick and Joe, their different histories, killing each other in battle, their friendship, the introduction of the gay theme and there are explanations? Beyond friends?

7. The group, working together, their injuries, suffering the death and wounding, revival?

8. Afghanistan, the introduction to Nile, the Marines, the village, working with the women, the indication of where the man was, hidden? The attack, Nile and her control, the wounded man, his slitting her throat, her death? Her reviving, the members of the squad and their shock? Andy and her detecting that a new immortal had survived? Her going to Afghanistan, the confrontation, Nile and her suspicions, the fights, driving away?

9. The flight, the pilot, Nile still fighting, the gun, cuffing Andy, the shooting of the pilot? And her being tricked by the Russian language? (And the later years of this tactic against Merrick’s soldier?)

10. France, the seclusion, the old ruins? The group working together? Nile becoming part of the group? Revealing her story, her family, her background? Her becoming used to the idea of the immortality?

11. The squad, the attack on the group, Andy and her battle in the church? Joe and Nicky taken? Booker and his involvement, the revelation that he had betrayed the group?

12. Andy, her injuries, going to the chemist, her not healing herself?

13. The memories of the Inquisition, Andy and her friend at the stake, to be burnt, Quynh put into the cage, dropped to the bottom of the sea, immortal but imprisoned for 500 years?

14. Andy and Nile going to London? To rescue the men?

15. Copley, the capture of Joe and Nick, the treatment, their declaration of love for each other, the experiments?

16. Merrick, fanatic, single-minded, his motivations, his own military?

17. Andy and Nile, arriving, the infiltration, and he sending Nile away, the discovery that there were no bullets? Her return?

18. The buildup to the final confrontation, the battle, the deaths, individual fights, freeing Nicky and Joe, their despising of Booker, his becoming involved? Copley and observing downstairs?

19. Nile, the confrontation with Merrick, his attacking her with the axe, her wounding him, the fight, their both falling from the window and onto the car?

20. The group together again? Andy and her seeing the collection of evidence from Copley, the extent of the achievements? The future? And Quyhn reappearing?