Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: George Gallo, Defiant Screen Entertainment.
Realistically you may consider the basis of this film to be a bit far-fetched, but if escapism is what you’re after, then set yourself up for an action-packed ride.
Academy Award-winning Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby, The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en) plays Damon, a retired cop who lives alone in a sprawling, white, outrageously upmarket mansion that hints at ill-gotten gains from some immoral activities.
Australian model and actress Ruby Rose (Orange Is the New Black, The Meg, John Wick: Chapter 2) plays Victoria, his carer, who also has a secret past, having worked as a top drug courier in Berlin for the Russian mafia.
As the opening credits roll, we learn about the long career of a ‘hero cop’ until wounds in the course of duty reduced him to wheelchair-bound retirement.
The scene is now set for some implausible confrontations. When Damon decides to call in money from his narcotics contacts, he forces Victoria to make the five compulsory stops to collect. As insurance, Damon takes her daughter Lily (Juju Journey Brener) hostage.
Victoria must now use guns, guts and a persistent pursuit for vengeance to take out a series of violent gangsters. She takes to her superbike with lightning speed and some sophisticated equipment, strapped with a helmet and chestcam that lets Damon watch her every move. Her driving force to succeed is the need to see her daughter again.
High-calibre exploits drive this film from the creator of Bad Boys. George Gallo’s seemingly mechanical action oeuvre gives enough grip to carry Vanquish over the line as we’re compelled to keep watching to the end. Oddly, Gallo is relaxed about some finer details, but injects generous traits of benevolence into Damon. The compassionate ambience saves the day!
Name the film that won an Academy Award for Morgan Freeman? If your answer is correct, then you could be one of three winners to receive a DVD of Vanquish. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by Monday, 21 June 2021. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column on 22 June 2021.
