The 2020 thriller Lost Bullet is rated as one of the most enjoyable Gallic action performers ever, creating a stunt fest amid engaging, if simplistic storytelling. Over the years, mainstream French cinema has crafted the action thriller as a distinct genre that offers a very different flavor to the Hollywood prototype, sampled by hits like Leon: The Professional, Point Blank, District B13, or the series La Femme Nikita, among many others. . Guillaume Pierret's Lost Bullet was a nice addition to the list. There was always a sequel.
Lost Bullet 2 marks the return of franchise star Alban Lenoir and the story picks up where the first film left off. For those who were late, the first movie cast Lenoir as Lino, a petty thief with a knack for customizing regular cars into amplified super machines. To avoid jail time after a mugging goes wrong, Lino agrees to work for the police task force. The suspenseful drama unfolds with the death of his mentor and his brother at the hands of corrupt cops, after which he is framed for murder. The ex-con has to locate a missing car that contains the only proof of his innocence: a bullet.
Director: Guillaume Pierret
Writer: Guillaume Pierret
Stars: Alban Lenoir, Stéfi Celma, Sébastien Lalanne
As with the first film, lead actor Lenoir and director Pierret are also collaborating as screenwriters for the sequel. The duo were clearly concerned with giving more than what worked the first time around, keeping the pace high-octane in terms of storytelling and execution of the action. The beginning of the new film provides just a look back at what happened in Lost Bullet, to place the sequel in the context of the predecessor. Briefly, in Lost Bullet 2 after the death of his mentor Charas, Lino is determined to catch the culprit. Police officer Julia (Stefi Celma), who has a soft spot for him, also returns from the first film and this time gets a bigger part of the action. A new narcotics unit is formed and she is appointed to lead her missions. The story deals with the illicit cross-border drug trade that occurs between France and Spain, leading to a prominent roadside action sequence involving French and Spanish police officers.
Lenoir as Lino is increasingly emerging as not only a mechanic, he is also a super driver with abundant fighting skills. Which in turn allows the protagonist to be some kind of superhero, with his customized car as a "powers" weapon. In some ways, rather than innovative narrative, the franchise's writers are clearly more focused on the stunts and tricks that underpin the unfolding drama.
As for the script, a revenge drama starring fast cars and criminals could be reminiscent of, for example, Hollywood's Fast and Furious series. If the Lost Bullet movies have managed to create a distinct space away from Vin Diesel's blockbuster franchise, it's because Lenoir and Pierret give the drama a realistic touch, both visually and in terms of violence. Without slowing down the pace or getting in the way of the action-adventure, Lost Bullet 2's script, like its predecessor, attempts to accommodate an underlying hint of sociopolitical realities in terms of ethnicity and class while envisioning its characters and context. Corruption within the system is also cleverly highlighted, while also setting up twists in the script. You see a dystopian unease as Lino and his modified car get into the chase-and-stunt business: it's all very Mad Max in complexion but rather plain and inherently too French in imagination to be a ripoff of the cult Hollywood series. .
The effect, however, is mediocre. Pierret's direction is primarily focused on maintaining a fast pace while setting up the irreverent action narrative. Lost Bullet 2 is meant to serve as the continuation of an ongoing story, but the movie could also work as a standalone adventure (however, to fully savor the sequel, you should ideally watch the first movie before you start watching the second). sequel so you don't miss the context of the drama and the returning characters). Pierret's approach persistently consists of trying to set a setting for visual effects-laden spectacular thrills, especially car chases, in an attempt to delight the loyal fanbase the first film garnered. The result should keep fans of the franchise happy.
Watch Lost Bullet 2: Back for More 2022 Movie Trailer
Comments
Post a Comment