Gemini Man (2019)
6.4 /10
3677 Reviews
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Henry Brogan is an elite 51-year-old assassin who's ready to call it quits after completing his 72nd job. His plans get turned upside down when he becomes the target of a mysterious operative who can seemingly predict his every move. To his horror, Brogan soon learns that the man who's trying to kill him is a younger, faster, cloned version of himself.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Henry Brogen / Junior
... Danny Zakarweski
... Clay Verris
... Baron
... Jack Willis
User reviews
A century ago, man was just getting started with movies - heck, we even had sound and colour to explore. ‘Gemini Man’ deserves to be acknowledged for its purposeful step towards discovering what potentially lies out there for the future of movies and the capacity of the technology. Sure, the film finished and Michael and I both agreed the plot was safe and it really does stick to the “boy runs, meets girl and keeps running“ framework - but if you want to see it for more than that, at least respect it’s go-getter exploration of a new digital world.
- Lily Meek
Read Lily's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-gemini-man-ang-lee-vs-ang-lee-has-technology-gone-too-far
Director:
Writer:
David Benioff (Screenplay)
David Benioff (Story)
Billy Ray (Screenplay)
Darren Lemke (Screenplay)
Darren Lemke (Story)
Genres:
Release Date:
2019-10-02
Run Time:
117 min
MMPA Rating:
PG-13
Reviews of
Gemini Man
A century ago, man was just getting started with movies - heck, we even had sound and colour to explore. ‘Gemini Man’ deserves to be acknowledged for its purposeful step towards discovering what potentially lies out there for the future of movies and the capacity of the technology. Sure, the film finished and Michael and I both agreed the plot was safe and it really does stick to the “boy runs, meets girl and keeps running“ framework - but if you want to see it for more than that, at least respect it’s go-getter exploration of a new digital world.
- Lily Meek
Read Lily's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-gemini-man-ang-lee-vs-ang-lee-has-technology-gone-too-far
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Usually, I leave the technical aspects to the end of my reviews since story, characters, and the critical element of each genre (action in action flicks, comedy in comedies, and so on) are way more important. However, having in mind the whole marketing campaign surrounding Gemini Man's "groundbreaking innovations", I'll address them now. Even after sleeping on it, my experience in high frame rate still feels very … weird. In case you need some explaining, HFR adds a lot more detail to the image since it captures more frames per second hence making the image smoother, which can be extremely distracting. I always disable motion smoothing on my TV since I hate that feeling of knowing that "something's not right".
It doesn't have to do with speed, which is something people are going to wrongly state regarding this film. The action isn't faster, don't make the mistake of saying this. Since there's 2.5x more detail (24 FPS is the standard frame rate), movements become easier to follow, so there's the illusion of watching something faster than normal. Truth is, it just FEELS like it. When characters are just talking, and there's no action involved, it works because it simply looks better. However, the action sequences are very hit-and-miss. Some pieces look absolutely amazing, but it's clear this technology needs a few more years of experience to reach its full potential.
Scenes featuring car/motorbike chases, running, or shootings are stunningly filmed, but any hand-to-hand combat is frustratingly off-putting. Additionally, Ang Lee applies an excessive use of CGI to a lot of these moments, which makes some fights look incredibly absurd. HFR is not the only technical attribute people are going to discuss. That young version of Will Smith … Honestly, it doesn't really work for me. People who complained about The Lion King (2019) not being able to show animals emoting will surely hate this attempt of replicating a young Will Smith (if they don't, then Joker was right, society is indeed extremely hypocritical).
It's just like the action sequences with HFR: hit-and-miss. There are some genuinely mind-blowing scenes with medium shots of young Will Smith, and he looks 99.9% real. In these specific shots, it's impossible to tell the difference between the clone and a real version. However, it still fails to deliver this realism throughout the entire runtime. First of all, young Henry barely shows any emotions (except a brilliant crying moment), which is obviously meant to facilitate the VFX team's work. But even with his face completely still and empty of emotions, the eyes just look too doll-like. The eyebrows move strangely, and the forehead seems odd.
In the end, it all comes down to forgetting that it's a digital character and that almost never happens. I always felt like I was watching a blend of CGI, motion-capture, and whatever other technology they used to try to pull this off. In a few years from now, if Gemini Man gets a remake or some other movie tries to do something similar, I bet it will look near-perfect. Right now, it's more of a disturbance than an achievement. Put this together with the already not-that-good HFR, and we get a visually striking yet distracting film.
And if you thought the story would save it… It's pretty bad. Generic, predictable, and filled with almost offensive exposition. I would have to go through my reviews, but this is definitely one of the most exposition-heavy screenplays of the year. I lost count of the number of times a character starts ranting with the purpose of explaining something evident to another character. The worst thing a screenplay can do is treat the audience like they are 5-year-old children. The whole plot revolves around people asking someone else what happened, what's happening, and what's next. We already know from the trailer Will Smith is being hunted by a young version of himself, a clone.
Try to imagine how many ways you can tell someone there's an individual exactly like that person. Now, just lazily insert all of those sentences on a character's script and make it say them in a single scene. I'm sorry, but it's laughably bad. There are no surprises! It ends abruptly, utterly disregarding the only interesting plot point (still very predictable), by not developing it any further than one sequence. If it wasn't for the truly fantastic cast (Will Smith is always impeccable, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Benedict Wong deliver great performances), Gemini Man would easily be one of the absolute worst movies of the year. Shoutout to Lorne Balfe's score, which is by far the technical aspect worthy of only compliments.
All in all, Ang Lee's attempt to deliver a groundbreaking film doesn't quite hit the mark. Honestly, it's still far from it. The 60 FPS HFR and the young version of Will Smith are occasionally jaw-dropping, but both technical aspects need years of improvement to be able to work seamlessly. As of now, these only serve as a frustrating distraction. However, the biggest problem with Gemini Man is its exposition-heavy screenplay, which besides treating the audience like dumb people, doesn't carry any sort of surprise or novelty. As generic and predictable as it could be. The unbelievably talented cast, a spectacular score from Lorne Balfe, and a few notable action sequences save this technological hit-and-miss from missing its target entirely.
Rating: C-
Not at all bad and pretty watchable action-thriller, but also outside some of the effects and fight choreography (when you can see what's going on), not terribly memorable either.
Also, using 60 fps was a bit off-putting, especially with the daylight scenes making this look cheaper than it probably was, at times feeling like you're watching something online or even on 1x fast forward. Not entirely sure why Ang Lee went in that direction, but didn't work for me.
All in all, maybe worth a rental but certainly far from a best effort from both Lee and Will Smith. **3.25/5**
The effects, sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, look **great**. But boy oh boy was this dumb. And badly acted too, which is surprising. Like I've seen these people before, I know they are more than capable of the job, what was it about _Gemini Man_ that just caused them to throw all of that out the window? I assume it's the fact that everything about it was completely hollow and they couldn't bee bothered putting in the effort required to... Do their jobs well. Bet they didn't mind that paycheque though.
_Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._
You made a person out of another person, then you sent me to kill him. You made a choice to do this to me.
Gemini Man is directed by Ang Lee and co-written by David Benioff and Darren Lemke. It stars Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. Music is by Lorne Balfe and cinematography by Dione Beebe.
Henry Brogan (Will Smith) is an aging but elite assassin who's ready to call it quits. However, his plans are put on hold when he suddenly becomes the target of a mysterious operative who can seemingly predict his every move. The assassin who stalks him has a very familiar feel to him...
Lets not beat around the bush, Smith and Winstead deserve a better screenplay than this. The writing is weak and lazy, Lee is clearly the wrong director for such a high concept action film, while the action scenes are shoddy in effects. In fact the storyline, as trite as it is, is unfairly in a constant battle against the CGI on show.
However, film never sits still and refuses to let boredom take a hold. The lead actors are engaging enough to hold attention throughout, and even as the sugary coatings fill out the final throes, we at least can acknowledge there were earnest intentions to make an existential clone thriller here. But with Jerry Bruckheimer on production you can see there's a popcorn action film trying to break free of the literary treacle.
Hardly the worst clone sci-fier that some have called it, but it's not memorable either. Think of it more as a time filler for the curious about the subject to hand. 6/10
Really good watch, would watch again, and can recommend.
If there is someone you want to put on the screen twice, then I understand it being Will Smith, and the rest of the cast is great. This might even have been the role that got Mary Elizabeth Winstead into the Huntress role later on.
I think they specifically reference it a some point in the movie, but a lot of the story is Will Smith fighting himself. The action sequences are solid, the scary secret spy organization is scary and secretive, and there are even a few "twists" along the way.
My biggest problem is that this entire movie is unnecessary. If Clive Owen's character wasn't basically a super villain, then he could have left old Will Smith retire and no one would be the wiser. That might have possibly been a better movie, though I think Star Wars might be a point against me there.
Long short: it's good, it's great action, it's not world moving, but does include a touch of sci-fi (/sci-fact, we're on that border). It just has a bad clash of reality that people and organizations like that exist, and we pay for them.
Cast & Crew of
Gemini Man
Cast
... Henry Brogen / Junior
... Danny Zakarweski
... Clay Verris
... Baron
... Jack Willis
... Del Patterson
... Janet Lassiter
... Yuri Kovacs
... Marino
... Junior (On-Set Reference)
... Bicycle Messenger
... Kitty (Jack's Girlfriend)
... Henry's Dad
... Henry's Mom
... Valery Dormov
... Young Girl on Train
... Mother on Train
... Aniko (Lab Technician)
... Key Shack Agent
... Patterson's Son
... High School Girl
... High School Principal
... Man at Marina
... Connor (uncredited)
... School Kid
... Budapestian at Sauna
... Hungarian Student
... Junior's Friend
... Cop
... Training Officer
... College Student
... Flemish Train Announcer
... Scuba Killer #1
... Budapest Bathhouse Patron
... College Student
... Barista #1
... Tourist
... College Kid
... College Student
... Spa attendee
... College Student
... Student
... Pedestrian
... Pedestrian
... College Student
... DIA Agent
... Training Officer
... John
... Agent Demeter
... College student
... Coffee House Hipster
... Barista #2
... College Student
Crew
... Casting
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Executive Producer
... Director of Photography
... Director
... Editor
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Producer
... ADR Mixer
... Set Decoration
... Camera Operator
... Screenplay
... Story
... Visual Effects Editor
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Compositing Supervisor
... Art Direction
... Screenplay
... Property Master
... Producer
... Art Direction
... Casting
... Hairstylist
... Producer
... Producer
... Production Consultant
... First Assistant Director
... Supervising Art Director
... Foley Artist
... ADR Mixer
... ADR Mixer
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Assistant Sound Editor
... Costume Design
... Stunt Coordinator
... Makeup Artist
... Executive Producer
... Screenplay
... Story
... Matte Painter
... Original Music Composer
... Assistant Sound Editor
... Art Direction
... Foley Mixer
... Techno Crane Operator
... Art Direction
... Camera Operator
... First Assistant Director
... Production Design
... Foley Editor
... Makeup Department Head
... Makeup Department Head
... Costume Supervisor
... Art Direction
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Construction Coordinator
... Script Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... Graphic Designer
... Set Designer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Still Photographer
... Visual Effects Producer
... Underwater Director of Photography
... Aerial Director of Photography
... Script Supervisor
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... ADR Editor
... Unit Publicist
... Visual Effects Editor
... Sound Effects Editor
... Set Designer
... Set Dresser
... Gaffer
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Key Hair Stylist
... Aerial Camera Technician
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... CG Supervisor
... Animation Supervisor
... Hair Department Head
... Set Designer
... Camera Operator
... CG Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Casting Associate
... Principal Costumer
... Lighting Technician
... Conceptual Design
... Art Department Coordinator
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Armorer
... Makeup Artist
... ADR Mixer
... Set Dressing Buyer
... ADR Recordist
... Art Direction
... First Assistant Camera
... Sound Mixer
... Music Editor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Key Grip
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Animation Supervisor
... Boom Operator
... Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
... Additional Second Assistant Director
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Key Makeup Artist
... Visual Effects Producer
... Rigging Grip
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Armorer
... Software Engineer
... Set Designer
... Rigging Gaffer
... Electrician
... First Assistant Director
... Marine Coordinator
... Costumer
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Key Grip
... Assistant Director
... 3D Generalist
... 3D Generalist
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Set Costumer
... Second Assistant Director
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... Animation
... Costumer
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Boom Operator
... Art Direction
... Rigging Gaffer
... Ager/Dyer
... Lighting Technician
... Set Dresser
... Art Department Coordinator
... Compositing Supervisor
... Lighting Technician
... Lighting Technician
... Modeling
... Assistant Art Director
... Dolly Grip
... Additional Script Supervisor
... Costume Supervisor
... Video Assist Operator
... ADR Mixer
... Software Engineer
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Techno Crane Operator
... Assistant Art Director
... Lighting Technician
... Lighting Technician
... Travel Coordinator
... Electrician
... Additional Hairstylist
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Assistant Director
... Graphic Designer
... Second Second Assistant Director
... VFX Editor
... Senior Animator
... Construction Manager
... Best Boy Grip
... Third Assistant Director
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Modeling
... Modelling Supervisor
... Makeup Artist
... Lighting Technician
... Rigging Grip
... Supervising Editor
... Costume Assistant
... First Assistant Director
... First Assistant Director
... Lighting Technician
... Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
... Title Designer
... Matchmove Supervisor
... Second Assistant Director
... Senior Animator
... Costume Design
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Third Assistant Director
... Costumer
... Production Consultant
... Construction Manager
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Assistant Art Director
... Construction Coordinator
... Graphic Designer
... Graphic Designer
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Set Designer
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Decoration
... Best Boy Grip
... Camera Production Assistant
... Digital Imaging Technician
... Digital Imaging Technician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Makeup Artist
... Assistant Costume Designer
... Costume Assistant
... Costume Coordinator
... Costumer
... Principal Costumer
... Set Costumer
... Tailor
... Wardrobe Assistant
... Wardrobe Assistant
... Armorer
... 3D Artist
... 3D Artist
... 3D Generalist
... 3D Generalist
... Animation
... CG Supervisor
... Compositing Supervisor
... Matchmove Supervisor
... Matte Painter
... Matte Painter
... Modeling
... Pipeline Technical Director
... Pipeline Technical Director
... Pre-Visualization Supervisor
... Software Engineer
... VFX Editor
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Production Assistant
... Visual Effects Production Manager
... ADR Recordist
... Assistant Sound Editor
... Sound Effects Editor
... Assistant Editor
... Colorist
... Color Assistant
... First Assistant Editor
... Production Coordinator
... Production Coordinator
... Production Secretary
... Production Secretary
... Production Secretary
... Production Secretary
... Travel Coordinator
... Second Unit Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Assistant Director
... Assistant Director
... Additional Second Assistant Director
... Assistant Director
... Visual Effects
Videos & Photos of
Gemini Man
Videos (2)
Photos 31
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