Ryan Shoots First: Point Blank
Whenever Netflix decides to dip their toes in the over the top action game we here at Bulletproof Action get pretty excited. This time that Netflix exclusive movie is Point Blank. The bonkers action film stars Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo, who play two men from different worlds thrust into one wild ride together fighting crooked cops and rival crime gangs.
Mackie’s character Paul plays an ER nurse who is forced to help get Grillo out of the hospital to save his pregnant wife. Grillo has some sensitive material that many people want and him being passed out in the ER is problematic. While Mackie is no slouch and doesn’t exactly look like your average ER nurse he plays the fish out of water role well especially opposite the always hard nosed Grillo. Once the two get together they’re dynamic and chemistry really helps drive the movie. Whether their time together in the various Marvel Movies playing Falcon and Crossbones helped at all is unclear, with a wacky premise that doesn’t give a lot in terms of substance the movie is made or broken on their scenes together.
On a side note being from Cincinnati, the movie is set here as it features our famous Graeter’s Ice Cream and our own crazy news man who posts his own makeup selfies Bob Herzog. It was entertaining to watch long drawn out car chases in a downtown area that you could probably drive from one end to the other in a minute going at high speeds.
For me in a world of action movies all trying to stand out, style is everything. I will let a lot slide in terms of concept and pace but it’s always nice to see directors and cinematographers take chances and throw in some unique shots, angles and transitions. One part of this movie really sold me. Very early on in the film when Grillo is waking up and Mackie is there he is obviously confused and checks Mackie against the wall. Mackie immediately tells him everything and wastes no time. Why don’t more movies do this? In a real life scenario you would spill the beans as fast as possible to avoid any confusion and not play the pronoun game.
Every B Action movie has to have its hallmark fight scene, one that could potentially be a future “Scene of the Week” here on BPA and in Point Blank it is a groovy fight scene in an automatic car wash complete with some good music, creative fighting and unsuspecting bystanders just trying to get a clean car, unaware of what’s going on around them.
I would love to see Netflix do more films like this or more accurately purchase them from studios. Not just for content for our website but their budget and power can really help elevate the genre and get some good B Action films out to a larger audience allowing both actors and film makers a safe space to try new things. I get that the action genre may not be considered prestigious or Oscar worthy, but in a world where so many streaming services are vying for content, having a solid stable of action films to round out the catalog would be nice.
For now Point Blank brings some big names and some style with its lead actors carrying the load of the film and taking it from something cheesy and predictable to a good entertaining late night action flick. So grab some Graeter’s Ice Cream and some Skyline Chili and enjoy the show!
