Released: 13th August 2021
Length: 108 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Ferdinando Cito Filomarino
Starring: John David Washington, Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook and Vicky Krieps
Tales of an individual’s struggle for survival are often loaded with dramatic tension. Depending on the setting, a powerful performance can pull the audience into their plight. Beckett, directed by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino, is a release that delivers on that front but forgets to back it up with other components.
The man in question (John David Washington) is a western tourist vacationing in Greece with his girlfriend April (Alicia Vikander). Their relaxation turns to tragedy when they get into a car crash in the mountains. This accident then takes a nastier turn as Beckett goes on the run; after seeing something he shouldn’t, an unknown faction wants him dead and the American is soon embroiled in a deadly political plot. Taking place from his perspective, a race to reach the embassy in Athens begins; the locals both help and hinder as our lead narrowly avoids capture and deals with some nasty injuries along the way. As a self-contained thriller, Beckett hits some high notes; it takes a more realistic approach with the gradual reveal of information. Initially Beckett is unaware of wider events and the motives of his pursuers; everywhere he turns someone is out to get him. However, this same tension doesn’t carry through to events happening around the character. Beckett’s knowledge rarely factors into greater events and the wider context becomes irrelevant by the end. The film’s conclusion is incredibly abrupt; it builds to a violent climax in the city centre, only to pan away to an inconsequential confrontation. Outside of some character reversals here and there, the build-up doesn’t reach a detailed reveal or payoff.
Several A-list actors line the cast of Beckett, but most of them go by underused. John David Washington continues to offer a strong presence in the leading role. His performance is a mixture of panic, guilt and confusion; a blend that successfully transfers onto the audience. We feel the same fear he does on the road to Athens, wondering why he has become a target. On top of that, his character is very grounded, making mistakes and scraping through encounters by the thinnest of margins. Unfortunately, this is where the film’s strengths end as the surrounding elements fall short. Alicia Vikander exits the stage early on and while her character does hang over Beckett on an emotional level, more could have been done to flesh out their relationship. The same is true for other acquaintances; Boyd Holbrook’s turn as an embassy employee rings hollow as we never learn where his motivations lie. Vicky Krieps fares a little better as a young political activist but because the goals of her group are disconnected from Beckett’s struggle, her character can’t make a full impression. In short, most of the characters are there to accompany the protagonist, rather than play a greater role in the narrative.
Ultimately, Beckett is a production with a lot of unfulfilled potential. John David Washington’s performance and the pressure surrounding the protagonist’s escape are both very effective; it’s too bad everything surrounding him is very one-note. The film needed to go deeper to develop its side characters and generate more intrigue for its political machinations. As it stands, the final product is merely acceptable.
Rating: 3/5 Stars (Fair)
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