Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard is Netflix’s most watched movie at the moment, and since I had a spare afternoon (one of many) I thought it was worth a look.
Okay, to begin with, the plot isn’t really much to write home about: The Old Guard is a group of immortal mercenaries (ably led by Charlize Theron) with a conveniently flexible set of moral values which has steered them to champion the downtrodden and oppressed for the past several thousand years, while presumably making a ton of cash on the side.
Through a series of flashbacks and moody chats around the campfire, the story tells us who they are and why they’ve been targeted by a pharmaceutical wunderkind who wants to carve them into slivers so he can unlock secret behind their immortality.
Okay, bit like Highlander, but not quite …
It’s stylishly shot, with some excellent set pieces and fight scenes that are stunningly choreographed. It’s a bit serious, but not so serious that you’ll find yourself rolling your eyes (well, I didn’t anyway). What I liked most about it, was how it presented immortality: it really isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. The team are lonely, even when they’re together, and the film cleverly presents the most hideous fate I can imagine for an immortal:
Stylish, well-acted, not too mushy and pretty good dialogue. The Old Guard is well worth a watch.