Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Gemini Man
2019
**½
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong, Ralph Brown, Linda Emond, Douglas Hodge, Ilia Volok

Henry Brogan is a US government sharpshooter who wants to retire. However, his employer believes he knows too much and sends out a highly skilled assassin who looks awfully lot like a young version of Henry. This science fiction premise was originally conceived more than 20 years ago, which is perhaps why the long-gestated script by David Benioff, Billy Ray, and Darren Lemke feels dated and predictable. Ang Lee stages some terrific set pieces, but ultimately this is a very ordinary globetrotting action movie with poorly drawn characters. Henry tells he is haunted by the lives he has taken, but Will Smith is not able to sell it. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays an odd platonic female sidekick whose motives remain blurry. The deaging special effects look surprisingly plasticky compared to Captain Marvel.