Mikes Film Talk

The Bricklayer (2023) is an exercise in tedium and Aaron Eckhart deserves better. A tagline of “SOME SECRETS ARE DEADLY” does not work as well as “SOME SECRETS ARE BORING.”

Eckhart is a “working man” actor. He has a long history of playing “everyman” roles that are beyond believable. From a mentally damaged PI in Wander to an unpopular GI leader in Battle Los Angeles and everything in between, he gives it his all. Each role this actor populates is strong, despite the quality of the film.

The Bricklayer relies on his lowkey everyman gravitas to sell it. And he does; to a degree. Eckhart is not too good to wear those believable scars and blood trails on his face. While not the extreme makeup of Two-Face in The Dark Knight, the actor gets in the dirt for those fight scenes.

In terms of believability, the odd couple pairing of Nina Dobrev and Eckhart works but they never really gel as a team of CIA colleagues out to save the company and the world. There is also the problem of Tye; Vail’s former love interest. She just does not fit. Full stop.

small screen cross over blues

It looks like the main problem with the two female leads are, quite possibly, their television backgrounds. Tye (Played by Ilfenesh Hadera) and his reluctant partner Kate, are both from TV. Nina from The Vampire Diaries and Tye from the Godfather of Harlem. Both wildly popular television shows and parts that, arguably, got them noticed.

However.

It is a long hard journey to be accepted in the world of film. Just as success with another movie does not equate to the next project being a hit. Take, for example, the two American male “leads” in this film. *Leads as in major roles, AKA cameo in nature.*

Clifton Collins Jr. (As Radek) has worked almost exclusively in film. Tim Blake Nelson who proved his acting chops in Old Henry also mainly works in the movie trade. It may not just be the the women is this movie were miscast, but those small screen cross over blues that continue to plague actors who start on television seem to be their cross to bear.

John Wick, paging, John Wick

In an entertainment world where retired spies, assassins and CIA enforcers rule, Hollywood and the indie industry, are looking for that lightning in a bottle. Lightning that John Wick I, II, III, IV ad nauseum brought box office gold to the studios. *On a side note here: Who did not watch John Wick Chapter 4 and feel like screaming at the long stairs scene?*

Producers have talked about a John Wick V. While that may or may not transpire, and if it does, please do not go the lacklustre route of the television prequel. *The Continental.*

Still, there is gold to be found in “them thar hills.” The Beekeeper, a Jason Statham vehicle that was pretty entertaining. This retired killer was reactivated when a dear old lady was destroyed and no one killed his dog but… This is a film that to date has grossed almost 441.5 million.

The Bricklayer, with a budget of over 23 million, has grossed a sad 556K to date.

Studios, large and small, need another John Wick. Although, as mentioned above, Chapter 4 was annoying in so many ways, it still grossed over 400 million with a budget of just 100 million. A clear winner by Hollywood financial standards.

So many problems

The Bricklayer has some, almost, laughable moments in terms of plot and two dimensional characters. The Greece contact with a dog; the poor thing has cancer, and this character is doomed. We know this immediately upon seeing his slavish devotion to the animal.

Apart from the 2D characters, there are moments in the film that stand out in a bad way. The worst offender? The stuntmen in the club fight scene. Vail takes on a group of bad guys. During this fight, they all wait patiently for the good guy to strike at them.

At least that scene was not a flashback. The memories are a constant interrupter of the action and storyline. Okay, we get it, Vail and Radek were best buddies, who both wanted to get out of the game. Enough already.

Continuity errors. As mentioned before, Aaron Eckhart wears his battle scars with pride.

But.

In his scene with Tye, where we learn she was a baddie after all, his face is crystal clear. No bruises, scars, blood, et al.

Behind the scenes

Director Renny Harlin has a real hit or miss record. There are no less that four writers of this “close but no cigar” film. There is an old adage that fits quite well for this tedium, “Too many cooks. spoil the broth.” Editor Iane Erskin can be forgiven much as this is only the third film he’s edited. *Erskin has other credits as editor but three only without assistant by his entry.*

All grousing about miscasting choices aside the cast did what was asked of them.

Aaron Eckhart does deserve better but the actor does what he does best in The Bricklayer, he exudes efficiency and believability. That working man’s gravitas shines through despite all the film’s problems.

This is a solid 3 star film. Worth watching but skip the popcorn.