HEART Of STONE
US, 2023, 122 minutes, Colour.
Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Matthias Schweighoffer, Sophie Okenado, Jing Lisu, Paul Reddy, Enzo Cilenti, Archie Madekwe, Glenn Close, BD Wong, Mark Ivanir.
Directed by Tom Harper.
It would seem that the villain of this film - and a review can’t reveal the twist and revelation, that would be quite a spoiler - does have a heart of stone, motivated by revenge, allegedly motivated by doing good in the world, but unscrupulous in achieving his aims, no compunction about the many dead in consequence of his actions.
But, the title is something of a play on words. Heart actually refers to an extraordinarily developed AI system, seemingly in an elaborate capsule, safely in the balloon in the stratosphere, but able to provide all kinds of information, vast information charts appearing at the sweep of a hand, offering probabilities of success and failure for various aspects of the mission. The group looking after this is called Charter, former members of such organisations as MI6, having their own control, seeking world peace and order, and having names from the various cards in the deck as the codenames.
And, as regards Stone – the leading action star is Rachel Stone, played by Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, having to do some of the stunts which Wonder Woman might have hesitated about. She is supreme at derring-do.
At first, her action on the snowy mountain slopes brings to mind some of James Bond’s action stunts. But, we soon realise that she is on quite a mission impossible and that Rachel Stone is the female equivalent of Ethan Hunt (though, admittedly, Tom Cruise does do his own stunts.).
And that is probably the main thing to say in a review – this is the beginning of a new franchise where women are key to the action, to the saving of the world. In charge of Charter is Nomad, played by Sophie Okenado. And, initially in the background is Keya, an IT expert, especially in hacking, who is drawn into the plot against Charter but soon realises she has been mightily deceived and joins in the final heroics with Rachel.
In the initial action are quite a number of MI6 agents, led by Jamie Dornan with his Irish accent. And at Charter headquarters there is the leading expert, Jack (of Hearts), a genial Matthias Schweigerhoffer. A number of character actors play key agents in Charter, including a prominent guest star who will surprise audiences if they have not heard already who it is!
With action, often spectacular, in the Alps, moderately so in London and Lisbon, but dramatically in the desert in Senegal and, finally, in Iceland.
So, full of energy, full of female action, and high hopes that world peace and order could be achieved. But…, No…
1. The title? The AI, the heart? And Rachel Stone?
2. Action adventure, in the James Bond vein, the female version of Mission Impossible?
3. Action, stunt work, CGI, feats of impossible daring, fights, the heart and the technology, the role of MI6, Charter, world peace, order? The world of espionage?
4. The location photography, the Alps, Lisbon, London, the desert in Senegal, Iceland? The cable car, the slopes, downhill skiing? The head of Charter in London, the technology? The shadows in Lisbon? The desert, the capture of the Heart, being picked up in the desert, the confrontation? Iceland, the University, technology, the locations? The musical score?
5. The introduction to the characters, the team, the target, the coordinated surveillance, in the vehicle, in the club, communications, opposition, getting the target into the cable car, the couple and surveillance, Parker, with the target in the cable car and confrontation, fight, the cyanide pill? Rachel, seeming inadequate, the range of the stunt work, controlled by Jack and his vast resources? Downhill, the crashes, the deaths, the later revelation about Parker and his killing the target?
6. The surprise in twist in Parker emerging as the villain, the action in Chechnya, MI6, supplying of arms, the deaths, Parker surviving, revenge? The revelation that he had killed the target in the cable car?
7. London, the headquarters of Charter, Jack and his work, Nomad and her being in charge, the other members of the staff and their talents? Rachel, the dangers, giving an account of herself, Lisbon, the dangers, the revelation about Parker? The clash with Charter in Chechnya, the deaths, his survival, revenge?
8. The glimpse of other members of Charter, guest roles for BD Wong, Glenn Close, BD Wong in Iceland, the attack, trapped? The other members killed?
9. Parker, his character, revenge, killing the target, capturing the heart, the balloon in the air, his being aided by Ker, her talents, her parents, motivations, confronting Rachel? Rachel, her talents, in the balloon, the fights, the plane and take off with Parker and Kayla, her leaving and hanging on, cut off, the freefall descent, saving Ker?
10. In the desert, believing Ker, the savagery of Parker, the control, in London, cutting off the air, the 50 minutes, tactics, the group prepared to die?
11. The difficulties in Senegal, the blonde operative, shooting and chases, Rachel diving into the water, saved, the plane, en route to Iceland? Parker and Keya going to Iceland, the University, setting up the trap, closing down the air for Charter?
12. The dangers, Rachel on her bike, the pursuit, using her wits, the truck, getting to the University? The contact with Nomad, a device? The confrontation was Parker, Keya and her eluding Parker, confronting him, saved by Rachel, the indication of the steam pipes, the gun, Keya slipping the gun to Rachel during the fight, Parker’s death? The resolving of the problems?
13. The humour in the episode with Charter and its AI failing, ringing Rachel on the landline! And her ringing Nomad?
14. Four weeks later, the re-establishment of Charter, Keya and her being given a card? Sequels?
