Bullet Points: Fortress (2021)

My mission is accomplished!  I have now reviewed every Bruce Willis movie released in 2021. Am I insane or just committed to bringing you Bruce Willis and all the sleeping pills and pillow talk that comes with his recent work? Bruce’s latest sleepwalking paycheck is Fortress. Look for Fortress in Select Theaters, on Digital and On Demand December 17th from Lionsgate. 

• The Plot: Fortress is not a remake of the 1993 film Fortress with Christopher Lambert. Instead this Fortress is about a retirement community that is attacked by a gang of goons. But guess what? This retirement community has a high-tech bunker, so it really is a fortress. Who will survive to star in the sequel? Fortress also stars Jesse Metcalfe, Chad Michael Murray, Kelly Greyson and Shannen Doherty. Fortress is directed by James Cullen Bressack, and it is written by Alan Horsnail.
• Pillows: Ha! I am writing this review before bed. We all know Bruce Willis is one lazy actor. He cashes more checks without too much effort. He is living the dream: Work less, get paid more. Until everyone stops watching Bruce Willis movies, can we blame him for doing what he does? Some will instantly say “1 star” or “Bruce sucks” or “snore bore”. Fortress isn’t Bruce’s finest hour, but trust me, he has made a lot worse this year… 2 out of 5 Pillows. 

• Bressack: I’ll give James Bressack credit: He tries each time he makes a movie. He might have the laziest actor alive as his lead, but he is not a lazy director. I wanted him to improve on his action filming skills and he did. The kills are more polished in Fortress than his previous effort, Survive the Game. Both films are actually two of the better efforts from Bruce Willis we received in 2021. James, keep doing what you do.
• 2005: Wanna get all the ladies excited? Why don’t you cast Jesse Metcalfe and Chad Michael Murray in your film. Can you say “Holy 2005!” Fortress features Jesse as Bruce’s son and Chad Michael Murray as the main bad guy. Seeing CMM as the bad guy is the highlight for me. I believe he is an underrated actor. 

• Story: Fortress might have too much talk for an action film. I wanted more action and less talk. We have about 45 really decent minutes of a movie trapped in a 90 or so minute runtime. Fortress is the first in a supposed trilogy. I know there will at least be a sequel because it has already been filmed. It is not directed by Bressack. Will he at least have an acting cameo? 
• Closing: Yes! No more Bruce Willis in 2021!! Mission completed. Look, Fortress is one of Bruce’s more polished films of the year. Even though it was wordy, I didn’t feel like taking a nap, and I stayed focused throughout the runtime. I only have high hopes for James Cullen Bressack. 
• Grade: C+