INFINITE
US, 2021, 106 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, Dylan O'Brien, Jason Mantzoukas, Rupert Friend, Toby Jones, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Liz Carr, Tom Hughes.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Infinite is a combination of action show with more science-fiction philosophical conversations.
The presupposition of the plot is that there are people who, with reincarnation, retaining memories of the various lives they have lived. The group who are positive in outlook, wanting to better the world, are called Infinites. However, there is a group bent on destruction called the Nihilists.
This is a star vehicle for Mark Wahlberg, rather more stonefaced and serious than usual, but excelling in the action sequences. He is an Infinite but who has lost his memories, considered schizophrenic as he was growing up, skilled at making expert swords, selling them to gangsters in exchange for medication for his condition. On the other hand, there is a suave Nihilist, Bathurst, played by Cbiwitel Ejiofor.
The film actually opens with a very long car chase, quite expert in its drama. The driver is Treadaway (Dylan O’Brien) pursued by a younger Bathurst (Rupert Friend). There is also another car with two Infinite’s. The chase ends in tragedy and deaths and some spectacular stunt work.
In the present, it emerges that Mark Wahlberg is a new incarnation of Treadaway and the next generation of Bathurst arrests him, interrogate him, tests out his memories or lack of memory – but Treadaway is rescued by the woman in the previous sequence who explains the situation to him, get him to a centre where is memories can be restored. A strong supporting cast, led by Toby Jones, dramatises the range of Infinites and those who have a capacity for restoring memories.
This continues his pursuit, malevolent and intending to destroy, spying on Treadaway and his transformation – and the goal of getting the key device, The Egg, so that he will have the power. The scene shifts to Scotland, to Bathurst Castle, an invasion by Treadaway and Nora, the revelation of where The Egg was concealed.
The climax, which might make Tom Cruise in his mission impossible persona quite jealous, has Treadway riding a bike, up a mountain and landing on the wings of the plane (Cruise did a similar stunt but landing on a train roof in Dead Reckoning). The scenes on the wings on the plane and the struggle with Bathurst and the final freefall and struggle is quite spectacular.
An epilogue in Indonesia, a young man making a sword, martial arts champion – the next reincarnation. Direction is by Antoine Fuqua expert in crime dramas, many with Denzel Washington.
- The title, the premise, Infinites wanting to save the world, Nihilists to destroy it? The tradition of films in this science-fiction vein?
- An action film, the number of car chases, fights, special effects, confrontations, the final episode on the wings of the plane? The contrast with the science-fiction ideas, statement of premises, reincarnation, identities, memories?
- The opening in New York City, introducing characters, themes, the chase? The transition to the present? Treadway, his apartment, waking, sense of identity, schizophrenia, forging the sword, going to the gangsters, the confrontation, the pills, the fight? Chase, his being arrested, the confrontations with Bathurst? The interrogation, the emblems, the suggestion of memory? His being rescued by Nora?
- Treadway, his character, loss of memories? The conversations with Nora? Explanations? The flight, the remoteness? The encounter with the various Infinite’s, explanations, tests, the attempts to recover his memory? The various members of the group and their contributions? His being taken to Artisan, the club, his hedonism, personality, explanations, his role in reviving memories, the dangerous process?
- Bathurst, the confrontation with Porter, information, Porter’s resistance, death, the memories and personalities kept on file? Bathurst and his collection? His henchwoman? The decision to go to Scotland? His spying, getting the information about The Egg? Summoning the plane?
- Treadway, recovering his memories, the flashbacks and his concealing The Egg before his death? The contact with Nora and Abel? Coming to Scotland, the weapons, the military, the fights? Bathurst and his escape?
- Treadway, on the motorbike, over the cliff, onto the wing of the plane, his attempt at sabotage, the final confrontation with Bathurst, the fight, recovering The Egg, into the sea?
- Time passing, Indonesia, the epilogue, the new incarnation of Treadway, of the other characters? Artisan and his supervision?
- The themes, plausibility, interest?
