|
Knight and Day
by Frances Syner
 Director James Mangold ("Walk the Line", "3:10 to Yuma") pairs two of
Hollywood's most charismatic stars, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise, in the
stylishly entertaining action /adventure film "Knight and Day". From a strictly
photogenic perspective it is a great choice, given the film is heavy on action
rather than plot and it doesn't demand too much from its leads except to look
good, move fast and exude the requisite amount of romantic chemistry between
them. Mission accomplished.
Cruise plays Roy Miller, a government spy gone rogue, accused of stealing a new
energy source with villainous FBI agents and other nefarious characters in hot
pursuit. Diaz plays June Havens, a cute, single girl who restores vintage
automobiles for a living. She's on her way to her sister's wedding when they "bump" into each on a sparsely populated Boston bound flight. Unbeknownst to
her, Roy has secreted the coveted battery in her luggage.
On board, a conversation ensues between them, romantic sparks fly, but the
getting- to- know -you scene is soon interrupted by a smoothly choreographed
assassination attempt. While clueless June is primping in the restroom Roy takes
out the planted killer passengers, then coolly lands the plane in a corn field.
After the two make their escape from the exploding plane, Roy, knowing he has
ensnared June in a messy situation, tries to reassure her that he's the good
guy, but can she trust him?
Finding out turns out to be a whole lot of fun for the audience thanks to
Mangold's brisk direction that keeps the action and the characters hopping from
one glamorous locale to another: a confrontation on a train through the Alps in
Salzberg, Austria; a dizzying motorcycle ride through Seville, Spain, bulls
included; an aerial bombing on an idyllic tropical Caribbean beach. There are
the usual car chases, many of which took place on the Southeast Expressway in
Boston where some of the film was shot last fall. (Another local note: the
Worchester Regional Airport is featured prominently in the film's opening
sequence.
Never mind that many of the film's circumstances are implausible or that the
plot proves at times to be too convoluted and silly to follow, "Knight and Day"
still benefits from a surprisingly funny, sophisticated script by screenwriter
Patrick O'Neil, one targeted at adults who will appreciate the witty banter and
a sexy, yet restrained relationship between the characters. Think "Romancing the
Stone" or a Cary Grant film with a dash of James Bond.
But the two best reasons to see "Knight and Day" are Cruise and Diaz.
Cruise returns successfully to action hero status after a serious stint playing
a soldier in "Valkyrie" and a comic role in "Tropic Thunder". In this film he
seems right at home playing a man of mystery, unflappable in the face of danger,
who is both a cold blooded killer and a charming suitor. It's a character that
spoofs some of the actor's past action hero roles and he plays it with lots of
deadpan humor while still flashing his dazzling, trademark smile.
Diaz, who proved her comic capabilities long ago in the Farrelly brothers'
hilarious hit "Something About Mary "shows she's game in the action genre as her
character makes the leap from "ordinary" girl next door to action adventuress,
thriving on near death escapes while trying to score with Roy who keeps popping
in and out of her life.
The rest of the cast includes Peter Sarsgaard ("An Education") as one of the
federal agents intent on doing the couple in and Rhode Island College alumna and
Academy Award nominee Viola Davis ("Doubt") as the head of a government agency
keeping track of the shenanigans. Paul Dano ("Juno") plays the nerdy inventor of
the battery. All are good but you won't really care. In "Knight and Day" it's
the stars that shine.
Frances Syner is the Theatre and Film Columnist for the Federal Hill Gazette |
|
