The Beekeeper
Stars: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, David Witts, Michael Epp, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad and Jemma Redgrave
Director: Savid Ayer
Scriptwriter: Kurt Wimmer
Composer: David Sardy
Cinematographer: Gabriel Beristain
Miramax/Metro Goldwyn Meyer
Rating: R for violence
Running Length: 105 Minutes
Actor Jason Statham (“Meg 2: The Trench”) is an action hero in the group such as Liam Neeson and Bruce Willis. Though, unfortunately, because of health reason, Willis is no longer acting. These men took on the bad guys and disposed of them in various ways, to the delight of audiences who, sometimes, would want to do the same thing. Their action films come out at a regular basis and so we have “The Beekeeper,” that centers on revenge. This time is it something that happens to a friend of Statham’s, whose name in the film is Clay. Director David Ayer (The Tax Collector”) knows how to stage a good fight and away we go. “The Beekeeper” debuted in Europe first and was a hit at the box-office there. Now, it is in the U.S.
As the plot goes, Clay is living a quiet life on a farm and takes care of bees, honey being a good product. His landlady is kind and when she dies, Clay is under suspicion, until this is listed a suicide. Hmm. What would cause this, well the landlady was taken in financially by a scam and lost the money she managed for charities. Her daughter Verona (Emmy Raver-Lampman) works for the FBI and tells Clay the FBI hasn’t been able to catch the criminals. So…. enter the people that Clay knows---called The Beekeepers--- and then the action begins as he hunts people down, disposing of some, harassing others and all in the name of revenge. They are after Derek {Josh Hutcherson from “57 Seconds”) who heads the scamming organization. Wallace (Jeremy Irons from “The Flash”) tries to stop him. There is intrigue within the Beekeepers and the FBI and then the chase gets higher on the government ladder way up to The Top. What to do?
Statham’s quiet style and quips at the right time are what make the film. Audiences take to this and you can rest assure there will be more films to come. In the meantime, he cleans up the places leaving bodies and fingers. He is a British actor with a style all his own and this is appealing to the audience Josh Hutcherson as a villain, does well as does Jeremy Irons. Then, there is Emmy Raver-Lampman as an FBI agent who has to choose sides. Everyone seems to know just what to do, and I am sure in the next Jason Statham action film, there will be a similar plot with actors who do well, also. The pattern is well set by the script written by Kurt Wimmer.
I like to watch Jason Statham at work. With a sly look you don’t know if he is getting ready to be pleasant or knock someone out. His actions are smooth and unexpected. With a deadpan look at times, upon meeting him for the first time, your inclination would be to run for the hills. “The Beekeeper” is a notch above the average action movie, and the title is clever. Protect the hive at all costs.
Copyright 2024 Marie Asner
