Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: BECKETT [Locarno Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]
The aspect of a political would-be thriller is an interesting genre if there is intrigue in it. "Beckett" (which opens Locarno Film Festival 2021 in Switzerland) tries to be engaging and its hero/anti-hero John David Washington puts himself all in, physically and emotionally, but it is not enough especially when compared to his previous work on "Tenet". However, in that earlier film, he had well drawn characters around him which helped balance any shortcomings he might have had. Here his most powerful co-star in Alicia Vikander appears only briefly and while she is playing a different role than usual, it pales in comparison to her work in just last week's release "The Green Knight". The aspect of stakes which that interaction is supposed to create doesn't feel there, and that is what is supposed to fuel everything as far as Washington's push. This is an interesting Denzel parallel because this is the kind of rigorous physical and emotional work Denzel would have put in back in the 90s at that age.
The setting is international but the structure of the backdrop of what is going on is not as clear as it should be. The cat-and-mouse element is paced well and the movement through the streets is interesting. However any other character than Beckett (Washington) is poorly drawn (especially one in the US Embassy) which doesn't allow for any greater world stylings. Vicky Krieps, another person Washington interacts with, has a a thankless role as well which is more a plot ploy than anything which makes her role in the most recent "Old" look complicated by comparison. Ultimately the movie is about the chase and one can tell it was trying to tap the international flavor but it never really gets there. The style is verite where some sweeping shots, drone elements or just in camera tricks would have upped the Hitchcock possibilities the film might have had. As entertainment for an evening, it is not horrible but those expecting more, despite Washington's commitment, will be let down. C+
By Tim Wassberg
