Reviews

Sean Penn's version of action film got started quickly with a secret mission to assassinate Congo's Minister of Mining. He is the shooter, accomplishes the mission and has to disappear. Flash forward 8 years. Penn's character is back in Congo working on wells to provide water to the local citizens. Why on earth would he go back to Congo to do humanitarian missions?

After 3 men attack him, he goes off to find out who is attempting to kill him. This process takes him to London, Barcelona and Gibraltar. Some of the aerial shots are reminiscent of a Bond flick. The action is pretty good, in particular in the last fight sequence. Sean Penn looks to have bulked up and looks to be in great shape for someone in his mid-50s.

Some additional questions I asked myself while watching the movie:

• If Penn's character is so in love with his girlfriend he had to abandon in the beginning of the movie, why didn't he reach out to her between now and then? - If he was innocent, why would Javier Bardem's character go off the deep and get himself killed, instead of working to clear their situation while being under attack? - I was really annoyed with the dizzy spells that Penn's character had throughout the end of the movie, but his condition seems to have improved drastically at the ending scene? - Even if Interpol clears Penn's character of wrongdoing and releases him after doing some time, why would he go back to what looks like Congo at the end to meet with his girlfriend?

I think this movie has limited benefit from re-watching vs. something like Taken, whose implausible action sequences are pure entertainment. Could be a good rental if other new movie options are exhausted.