Gemini Man – 2019
Will Smith carved a forever fan heart into my movie loving spirit with his “Welcome to earth” alien knockout scene in 1996’s ID4 Independence Day. Happily in Gemini Man I get not one, but two Wills, 23-year old cloned Junior, the top gun mercenary of the bad guys, and 51-year Harry Brogan, the top gun assassin of the good guys. A third Will crops up later but doesn’t get much air time before a newly united Harry and Junior snuff him out. Shades of Whack-a-Will. Junior, the bad guys’ mercenary is sent on a mission to kill his DNA donor dad, Harry. Of course, neither donor nor son know this test tube genesis story at the first or second round of assassin mayhem as the Wills chase and fight each other across three continents. Then the good guys and bad guys switch roles asking the audience to entertain a philosophic interlude between popcorn refills: What if it were possible to breed emotionless, conscious-free, combat-perfect clones in order to save the lives of American servicemen and women? The august and dignified UK, we’re reminded, started it all with Dolly the cloned sheep. Why stop at sheep or pigs, why not create the flawless soldier? All heads turn to Junior. What about him? Well? Well? Fortunately we weren’t held captive in the philosophy of ethics movie class for too long before we were back dodging grenades, reloading Uzis, and careening, cartwheeling and somersaulting across sky, earth and water, finally plummeting to the catacomb depths landing in skull piles. It is the face-to-face, mano-a-clono encounter that pivots the story from science to humanity, from head to heart. The last 30 minutes of this nearly two hour film presents haunting moments of moral decision and indecision, choices between loyalty and integrity, duty and decency. Don’t worry, the human insights are framed in the midst of a barrage of clever special effects and tumultuous action. No softness dare compromise blazing bullets and broken glass. No sir! But, trust me, the deeper questions don’t fade away in the grenade smoke. You be the Gemini judge.
It’s now on my list to see for sure!
It’s now on my list to see for sure!
Sometimes we simply want to be told whether we should stay home or go. My gut says no?
If you like Will Smith, go. If not, stay home.