The Bricklayer (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – An ex-CIA agent is reactivated when an extortionist targets the agency.

My Take – How the mighty have fallen! Initially known for films like A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), Die Hard 2 (1990), Cliffhanger (1993), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), and Deep Blue Sea (1999), over the better part of the past two decades writer-director Renny Harlin has been mostly involved in helming critically panned features, including the infamous Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), losing credibility with each box office bomb he delivers.

The same goes for Aaron Eckhart, an acclaimed actor known specifically his scene stealing compelling performances in Erin Brockovich (2000), Thank You for Smoking (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008), who nowadays primary seems content to star in generic VOD fodder as long as he gets top billing.

And if someone (like myself) expected that a collaboration between the two would result in something above standard, sadly they are going to be left disappointed.

Based on the 2010 novel of the same name written by former FBI agent turned author Paul Lindsay under the pen name of Noah Boyd, the film promises an enthralling narrative of espionage and international conspiracies, however, despite its ambitious premise, the execution just falls short, resulting in a middling and forgettable action thriller made from familiar parts.

Sure, the film isn’t completely without merit. Eckhart specifically seems to be doing his best and the action sequences are quite good, but ultimately, its inability to transcend the clichés of the genre, coupled with shallow characterizations and an uneven narrative, leaves much to be desired.

While it may offer some mild entertainment for die-hard fans of the genre, the overall film falls short of leaving a lasting impression.

The story follows Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart), a former CIA field agent, who now spends his time as a bricklayer, while listening to classical jazz.

Meanwhile, three international journalists are killed within a short period of time, the latest being a Greek reporter, all of whom happened to be outspoken critics of U.S. intelligence activities across the world, and their deaths simply pointing fingers towards the involvement of the CIA, resulting in widespread protests and anti-U. S. sentiment all across the world.

However, when Kate Bannon (Nina Dobrev), a newer recruit, identifies Victor Radek (Clifton Collins Jr.), a supposedly dead former asset as the culprit behind the assassinations and brings it to the attention of Director O’Malley (Tim Blake Nelson). O’Malley immediately gets Vail involved after all he was Radek’s former handler.

While initially uninterested in what’s going on, Vail soon changes his mind when assassins hired by Radek make an attempt on his life. Partnered with Bannon, Vail heads off on a non-sanctioned mission to track down and apprehend his old friend.

The plot initially holds promise, even if stretches the mindset a bit. When has anyone cared about what the head of Greece says? But, the execution lacks depth and fails to deliver the anticipated intensity. The plot is formulaic, relying heavily on clichéd tropes of the genre without offering any innovative twists or surprises.

Furthermore, the screenplay by writers Hanna Weg and Matt Johnson struggles to balance the intricate web of espionage with character development. While Renny Harlin’s direction offered some visually engaging sequences, the film suffers from pacing issues and inconsistent tonal shifts.

The action scenes, though competently choreographed, they fail to generate genuine excitement or tension. What does bricklaying has to do with the story? Not much, I wish there was some hidden meaning or subtext there but if you are looking for some arcane knowledge here, you will be wildly disappointed.

In between aggressive fights, thousands of bullet shots, a ridiculous car-chases there really is nothing to be learnt here, all wrapped up in a barely-holding itself story with some forced twists that are very predictable and also doesn’t matter much.

Performance wise, Aaron Eckhart does his best to elevate the material, but the writing doesn’t allow him to delve deeper into Vail’s complexities. The character remained two-dimensional, failing to connect on an emotional level with the audience. Nina Dobrev looks undeniably gorgeous throughout and is serviceable, even if the character is more there just to serve as a foil for Vail.

It also doesn’t help that Dobrev and Eckhart lacked the necessary spark to elevate their interactions beyond the expected dynamics of their relationship. In supporting roles, Tim Blake Nelson and Ilfenesh Hadera are typical and wasted, while Clifton Collins Jr. brings in a commendable turn. On the whole, ‘The Bricklayer’ is a generic action thriller that is throughout formulaic and inconsistent.