REVIEW: HEART OF STONE

3/5

The Price Of Salt. 

123 Mins. Starring: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready, BD Wong, Sophie Okonedo & Matthias Schweighöfer. Director: Tom Harper. On: Netflix. 

This Wonder Woman was Barbie's first choice. Margot Robbie may have turned 'Barbie' world into the billion dollar film of the year (just like she predicted), but originally the executive producer of the Mattel cinematic universe movie wanted Gal Gadot to star in the role. But Diana Prince had scheduling conflicts with DC. That seems like quite the payday to miss out on. Even if this 'Barbie' still carries her energy. Especially as news has broke this week that the previous promise of a third 'Wonder Woman' movie with new Detective Comics head honcho James Gunn may not fly after all. Leaving all those classic cameos invisible in that extended universe. It's no way to buzz Gadot's new Netflix movie this weekend, but at least the queen of queens still has the forthcoming 'Cleopatra' comin' atcha! Not to mention another of her former franchises roaring back to life (mum's the word). We just hope we see her when we hear her iconic 'WW' theme again. 

Until then, Gal looks to literally kick-start a new franchise of her own on Netflix like she tried with the 'Red Notice' of Ryan Reynolds and The Rock. 'Heart Of Stone' may sound like the name of a hallmark romantic drama, but it's actually the name of the streaming service's new actioner that's holding all the cards. But like the big-name and budget 'Notice' that came before like 'The Gray Man' or 'The Old Guard', this is good, but not great. It seems like Chris Hemsworth's 'Extraction' films are the only ones on Netflix that you can really get a series out of. This is just the kind of watchable wonder that leaves you thinking whether that subscription is going to be worth it in the long run when the streaming service is trying to remove your closest friends and family from the equation you keep paying for month after month, even when it multiplies. Especially if that extra money isn't going to those who really deserve it, the writers.  That's a little harsh, as is calling it stone-cold. Stone-cold can either be good (just ask Austin, because he said so), or bad in the centre (just see Gordon Ramsay in an utterly hilarious YouTube Avengers skit). This 'Heart Of Stone' deals with both. This SKYDANCE picture has plenty of heart, spy smarts and 'Misson: Impossible' like set-pieces that deserve a bigger screen to BASE jump off. But it also has rock and a hard place moments where it feels like it's running into a stone wall. 

There's nothing overly wrong with that though. No movie was created equal, and we need films like this in our blockbuster buff life. The rough and the smooth. Netflix's action and spy series of movies actually fondly remind us of those golden era 90s greats without the Hollywood hard-men (aside from the refreshing 'Fubar' show), and that's a great thing. But Netflix needs to clear the bar if they keep raising the pricing levels and restricting access. Let alone the idea of adding adverts. Even Spotify premium knows you can just listen on YouTube. 'Stone' reminds us of Angelina Jolie's 'Salt'. A big blockbuster back in 2010, but that, believe it or not, was over a decade ago, when Netflix was more like...well...Blockbuster. This straight to the new form of DVD release in a summer season of scorching blockbusters, that has even left the life on the line stunts of Tom Cruise in for a reckoning, exists in the margins of the movie-world when really its star and its potential deserve better. Without Gal Gadot it may have barely made a footnote. Yet it's because of the former Miss Israel and member of the Israel Defence Forces' military grade action smarts and hearts that this movie matters and makes its mark. Even though she's played Prince many times and began her career as part of the 'Fast and Furious' family, it feels like the best of the 'Death On The Nile' and the forthcoming 'Snow White' Evil Queen is only just beginning. 

Even amongst a star-studded cast and a Netflix blank check surprise, she still thrives in a Tom Harper ('Peaky Blinders', 'War & Peace') hallmark thriller. Scripted by comic-book writer Greg Rucka's story and 'Hidden Figures' co-writer Allison Schroder. 'Fifty Shades' own Jamie Dornan is the gray man in this movie. And he leads a crack team of spies featuring the 'Bodyguard' (the BBC, not the "I will always love you" one) James Ready (made for this) and a scene-stealing 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'Stan Lee's Lucky Man' star Jing Lusi. Playing it close to the chest, for all the kings and queens of hearts in this hand, it's Hindu movie megastar Alia Bhatt that could really take this movie places. Even with strong support from Officer of the Order of the British Empire and Commander of the Order of the British Empire, great Brit Sophie Okonedo (reuniting with Gadot after their Poirot plot), 'Jurassic Park' and world big-name BD Wong ('Gotham's' Hugo Strange, scene-stealing as he gets shook down in Will Smith and Margot Robbie's 'Focus' feature) and new Netflix favourite Matthias Schweighöfer. 

The 'Army Of Thieves', 'Army Of The Dead' spin-off Netflix prequel star playing the guy in the chair role perfectly. Sans chair, complete with hand swiping technology that would make Tom Cruise's swipe tech birthing 'Minority Report' feel palm pilot minor. At the heart of this movie is an A.I. MacGuffin, much like the 'Dead Reckoning' faced in part one of this year's 'Misson: Impossible' series in a sensitive time when this idea is striking to the hearts and pockets of those working in the movie industry (make it right...for all). In fiction a MacGuffin is defined as "an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself" (thanks Wikipedia). It may be a central theme here in this digital age, but we really hope fans and filmmakers focus on what's really necessary. And movies and stars with real potential for more, like this, aren't rendered irrelevant by jobs as rushed as people's judgement these days. Let's add some heart to this stone age. That's the gold. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Salt', 'Red Notice', 'Wonder Woman'.