IR Film Review: HEART OF STONE [Netflix]
The conceit of a new action franchise is dependent on the strength of the story involved. With "Heart Of Stone", premiering on Netflix,Gal Gadot flushes out an interesting character: a spy hiding in plain sight within the halls of espionage. Because she is the star, of course, one understands that her powers will come to the forefront. It is interesting seeing Gadot playing a little more subdued in the background per se. Her character Rachel Stone is both unassuming and alluring. While Gadot's accent is still slightly distracting, it does fit into the international element that she is showing here. The aspect within the stories of the different elements of the card deck playing the essence of a higher function in the spy world is pretty cool but still can be flushed out a little more. While the story here makes reference to a certain "heart" (not unheard of in James Bond films), the character of Stone is perfectly tailored to Gadot. Her best moment is a quiet moment when it is just her and a cat. It says so much about her character and is a great emotional moment which makes you root for her character.
The movie then resumes its almost non-elievable approach with a large mid-sky sequence seemingly right in the middle of the movie. This works well but the mechanics of the story have to catch up afterwards. It never quite regains that cadence. That said, like "The Old Guard", it is a great basis for a franchise, not unlike "True Lies" which should have been that for Arnold. The tone here balances a certain awkwardness and fun without having to adjust too much to the moral compass. Jamie Dornan as Parker doesn't have enough screen presence as one would want but his casting is understandable. You just never quite feel for the guy or the path he is on. You feel more for Jing Lusi as Theresa Yang and Paul Ready as Max Bailey,who are part of Stone's 2nd team. There is a sense of family and fun (even in dark moments) and that reflects the movie's best beats in the mundane elements of an op. Alia Bhatt as Keya is a good addition but you never quite engage with her either until the final moments. As the film wraps up, there seems to be more of a congruent feeling but Stone's journey, despite being done for the right reasons, seems a little colder.That said, "Heart Of Stone" is enjoyable but starts off much more strongly than its finishes. B
By Tim Wassberg
