While working at the American embassy in Paris, low-level intelligence agent James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) goes from switching license plates to being pulled into espionage when he's thrown into a terrorist plot when forced to partner up with the high-ranking but uncouth American operative Charlie Wax (John Travolta), who is determined to bring the entire operation down. I was very unsure of weather or not I should even consider giving this movie the time of day seeing as how the only bald action star I normally consider watching is good ole' Bruce Willis. Well Bruce, you better watch your back because John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers are unexpectedly phenomenal in this action packed thriller, From Paris with Love. This phenomenal Action/Adventure/Thriller is directed by Pierre Morel with a script by Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element) and also includes such stars as Kasia Smutniak, Richard Durden, Yin Bing, Amber Rose, Revah, Eric Gorgon, Francois Bredon, Chems Dahmani, and Mostefa Stiti.
The movie begins with James Reese entering the American Embasy in Paris drinving a blacked out supped up escalade. Shortly after he meets with ambassoder Bennington (Richard Durden) he is seen changing license plates. Reese has dreams of becoming part of the Cloak-and-Dagger division, which are finally rewarded when he is teamed up with the off the wall Charlie Wax. Wax first appears clad in leather with a shaved head, full face of hair and an earing, the perfect macho man stereotype, obscenely arguing with a French custom agent who will not allow him to enter France with a bag full of energy drinks which we later find out conceal his faithful pistol he never travels without. Wax slaughters countless bad guys as Reese follows behind carrying a vase filled with blow. I won’t spoil the ending but I will say that it took me for a ride to say the least.
The movie takes you for a ride from the Asian district of Paris, to the Tower de Eifel, to the slums. The setting is immaculate and spellbinding and slightly ironic in that dozens of people are slaughtered in the midst of all the beauty.
The soundtrack flows seamlessly with the sounds of gunfire and the agitated cinematography. In these scenes, you lean back and allow the action to take you to another dimension as the adrenaline begins to flow through your veins and permeates the bones.
Despite the preposterous, shallow plot, “From Paris with Love” is an effective stimulant with the thousands of gunshots and high-speed car chases on the Parisian boulevards that leaves you feeling as if you are ready to become a part of the Cloak-and-Dagger division yourself.
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