A large-scale film studio will often shell out big bucks to rope in globally renowned celebrities for their upcoming blockbusters. Netflix is no stranger to this practice, commissioning heavyweights to star in its recent ventures, like “Red Notice” with Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, and Dwayne Johnson or “The Gray Man” with Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling. These films receive massive streaming numbers during their opening weekends, but soon tend to fade into oblivion, rarely managing to sustain the viewers’ attention or make a lasting cultural impact.
Gal Gadot’s recent appearance in the instantly forgettable spy action thriller, “Heart Of Stone”, perfectly illustrates the fleeting relevance of such Netflix flicks. This film, packed with complex plot twists and mind-numbing strategic turns, barely succeeds in entertaining its viewers or providing them an engaging narrative.
Directed by Tom Harper, known for “The Aeronauts”, “Wild Rose”, and “Peaky Blinders”, “Heart Of Stone” presents its leading lady, Gadot, in a rather clichéd light. Gadot, known for her striking good looks, ascends from playing an ostensibly nerdy hacker to becoming the most intriguing character in her espionage team, led by operative Parker, played by Jamie Dornan.
In a bid to usher in a spy franchise with Gal Gadot at the helm, reminiscent of “Mission: Impossible” or the iconic Bond series, Tom Harper’s “Heart of Stone” seems like a determined effort to create a cinematic sensation. Yet, it often comes across as a mélange of superior films, lacking its own unique voice. The narrative is inhabited by clichéd characters and suffers from filmmaking that lacks flair.
Gal Gadot steps into the shoes of Rachel Stone, an operative from the clandestine Charter organization who doubles as a rookie MI6 tech agent. Her journey spans picturesque locations – from the scenic Alps and buzzing streets of London to Lisbon, then onto Senegal and finally touching down in Iceland. Regrettably, these locales are captured with a certain drabness that robs them of their charm.
Sophie Okonedo’s portrayal of Rachel’s recruiter, Nomad, leaves us perplexed about her backstory and motivations, while Matthias Schweighöfer’s character, the tech genius “Jack of Hearts”, feels eerily reminiscent of tech dynamics seen in films like “Minority Report”, but without the same level of finesse.
Dialogues in the film are predominantly exposition-driven, with the Charter’s objectives repeatedly spelled out. Noteworthy performances by Paul Ready and Jing Lusi, as Stone’s allies Bailey and Yang, are constricted by limited screen time. Meanwhile, Jamie Dornan’s rendition of Parker feels subdued, and Alia Bhatt’s hacker role, Keya, struggles against clichés. In contrast, Jon Kortajarena as the antagonist nails the requirements of his role.
Greg Rucka, who successfully adapted his graphic novel “The Old Guard”, disappointingly falls short here. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s touch, evident in her adept handling of character depth and action sequences in “The Old Guard”, is sorely missed.
Harper’s directorial approach results in muddled action sequences, drawing noticeable inspiration from iconic films. Gadot’s prowess as an action hero is unfortunately overshadowed by unclear direction and lackluster cinematography.
From a thematic standpoint, the film grapples with lofty ideas without true depth. Despite addressing topics like “determinism”, it skirts around the larger philosophical implications, particularly around the ethical boundaries of surveillance.
Even as the movie confronts its central organization’s flawed history, it sidesteps systemic accountability, choosing instead to blame individual errors. “Heart of Stone” culminates with the promise of future adventures, emphasizing the industry’s penchant for sequels and IP. But its endeavor to establish a female-centric franchise while subtly championing a surveillance-driven narrative feels misguided.
Streaming on Netflix.
