The 355

[Drunk Monk]

355 is getting horrid reviews but that would've been a no-brainer review. Alas.

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Well, it was it horrid. Not was it that good. Given the Star power expectations were high and not met.

Chastain is the lead - it’s her production - and she gives a strong acting performance for a shallow character - a femme fatale super spy. She acts well when fighting but she can’t sell a punch. Her body alignment is too posed, not powerful despite the fair choreo. 

It’s like Charlie’s Angels meets 007 with 5 global actresses - Kruger, Cruz, Nyong’o, and Fan. I had been tracking this because of.Bingbing’s involvement, which on top of thr pandemic screwed up production when she was busted for tax evasion and disappeared for a while.

It’s an old spy trope - recover the missing nuclear weapon/virus/microfilm/flash drive/whatever - here it’s a tiny box that allows the user to hack any computer system from airplanes to cell phones to launch codes. There’s a classic spy twist mcguffin that I predicted more or less because the winter soldier’s role. Cruz is a hapless psychologist who can unlock a cell phone that can find the device. All the others are spies from different nations forced to cooperate. Nyong’o is a hacker that can do magic with cell phones and a tiny tablet. Fan comes in late and has a Kung Fu staff battle in the middle of a full auto fire fight. Her accent and approach makes me suspect she didn’t know what she was saying in English. Kruger is the strongest action-wise. Her fights look feasible and she seems to handle guns well.

It doesn’t quite find its tone until the end which is a shame because it is poised to make commentary on the sexual divide but it’s too little too late. 

The action isn’t bad. It has its moments, a lot of jiggly cam hiding sloppy choreo, but it has its point. This might have been a far stronger film if it was written and directed by women. As it is, it’s a bit of a waste of talent.

Not D00M recommended, specifically not recommend for Greg because the wasted opportunities with this cast and production are painful. PPFy might like it as a decent actioner. I was amused but disappointed. This could’ve been much better. It sets up an equal but it didn’t do well enough to get there.