Picture: Netflix
The newest Netflix Original motion movie out of France, AKA, is now streaming, however do you have to give it a watch?
For Netflix Original Movies, the action-filled crime thrillers out of France have been everywhere in the map when it comes to high quality & success. On the low finish, big-star efforts with the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme (The Last Mercenary) or Jean Reno (Rogue City) didn’t fare nicely from a essential perspective. They additionally did not seize sufficient consideration to franchise one thing with these notable names. However, on the excessive finish, shock hits like 2020’s Lost Bullet did nicely sufficient critically and captured a large sufficient viewers that it spawned a sequel in 2022’s Lost Bullet 2: Back For More.
The success of Lost Bullet not solely opened the door for a possible franchise, however it additionally put its star Alban Lenoir on a much bigger stage from the episodic TV-filled & minor character work his profession had produced to that time. He went on to co-star in famed French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s sci-fi comedy Big Bug for Netflix and, in fact, star as soon as once more within the sequel to Lost Bullet reprising his function as small-time delinquent turned high-end mechanic Lino.
His newest French language Netflix movie, AKA, brings Lenoir again into the roles of co-writer & lead actor as he as soon as once more blends between the worlds of police enforcement and the legal underground.
Co-written & directed by Lost Bullet cinematographer Morgan S. Dalibert, the movie facilities round a steely particular ops agent (Lenoir) who finds his morality put to the take a look at when he infiltrates against the law syndicate and unexpectedly bonds with the boss’s younger son.
Unlike the extra normal fare from the style in America, AKA has a a lot slower, refined, & methodical strategy to its storytelling & character improvement. So many American motion movies rush to inform you as a lot as you could find out about their lead character to allow them to get proper to the flowery battle sequences and quests for full annihilation of some legal group. This movie might present you the prowess of Adam Franco’s subject work pretty early, however the backstory of who he’s, why he selected this line of labor, and the place his allegiances actually lie all are available in small fragments scattered all through the two hour runtime. The conspiracy plot seemingly unravels on the similar price of pace because the Adam character, which serves for a cohesive steadiness that results in the fairly revealing & explosive finale.
Picture: Netflix
For followers of the style, don’t fear; the motion right here is kind of good as nicely for what seems to be a modest finances. While not as relentless because the “gun fu” motion model from southeast Asia or John Wick this yr, you get loads of high quality hand-to-hand fight & headshots all through. Lenoir’s Adam Franco has the talents combine that might make him an awesome addition to a movie collection like Extraction with distinctive physicality, spectacular marksmanship, & psychological toughness.
While quite a lot of the characters, together with Adam, run very skinny with various levels of cliche, I consider the movie does simply sufficient with them to maneuver the story alongside and get us to the subsequent explosive outburst. Much like John Wick loves his canines & his automobile, Adam Franco has his comfortable spot in defending younger youngsters, which provides the movie an surprising dose of coronary heart & humanity.
Overall, AKA is a stable entry for followers of Lenoir and the Lost Bullet movie collection with sufficient weapons blazing to fulfill any fan of action-laden crime thrillers. With a extra reserved strategy, a touch of warmth and coronary heart, & a satisfactory conspiracy plot, this movie stands out amongst its fellow French Netflix choices.
Watch AKA on Netflix If You Like:
- Lost Bullet
- Rogue City
- Earth and Blood
- The Decline
MVP of AKA on Netflix
Alban Lenoir as Adam Franco
Though he has equally few strains to that of John Wick lately. Alban Lenoir offers such an imposing & commanding presence that he makes up for the skinny character design. He reads like a watered down French model of Tom Hardy or Jason Statham and will repeat these kinds of movies for a number of years to come back.
PLAY, PAUSE, OR STOP? AKA on Netflix
PLAY.
With spectacular tempo & satisfying motion sequences, AKA is likely one of the higher Netflix Originals of the style, particularly these which were produced from France. Just like fellow French motion movie Lost Bullet, this one may have a sequel in its future.