An action movie that has better appeal than the screenplay gives it credit for.
When it comes to movies about combat soldiers making extractions from enemy territory, there’s always danger. You have guns and explosions, and big names trying to sell the movie. Sometimes it works, and other times it doesn’t. “Land of Bad,” the new extraction film starring Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe, is another one of those movies, but is actually entertaining. The kind that the more commercial “Madame Web” isn’t. Besides I’ll take whatever rule “Land of Bad” has to follow over the irritable idiocy of that movie any day.
Hemsworth plays Kinney, a rookie Air Force combat controller, who joins a team-consisting of Sergeant Abel (Luke Hemsworth, brother of you know who), Bishop (Ricky Whittle), and Captain Sugar (Milo Ventimiglia)-on an extraction mission in an enemy zone known as “Land of Bad.” What’s refreshing about the earlier scenes is that neither the professionals nor their leader tease the rookie as much as movie characters would usually do. They do a little, but not in the aggravating sense. And when we do see them preparing for action, it’s all by the numbers. Who will survive and who will not.
Crowe plays Reaper, a drone pilot, who starts off his day complaining about someone moving his coffee pods from the cabinet, which ruins his daily routine. His 4th wife is on the verge of going into labor, and is unable to be by her side, because he’s busy trying to make sure our boys get through the danger alive. Sergeant Nia Branson (Chika Ilkogwe) works with him.
These two stars cross paths, when the extraction goes horribly wrong and leaves only Kinney alive. Therefore, Reaper is the man to guide him to the nearest safety point, and to tell him when his enemies are approaching.
The rules are basically the same with the enemies murdering American soldiers for how their people have mistreated them for years. And that’s basically the same cliche the “Madame Web” villain had to follow. But, at the very least, these villains are more menacing than that one. You’re able to fear for the lives of those victims, including the families of the ones associated with them.
I assure you this will be the last time I criticize that movie in my article.
“Land of Bad” was co-written and directed by William Eubank, who previously made crappy movies like “Underwater” and “The Signal,” and it was also written by his collaborator David Frigerio (“The Signal”). This movie isn’t crappy, but actually likable in the sense that a newbie like Kinney and a neglected pro like Reaper would cross paths and have chemistry. It doesn’t have to resort to the obligatory strict mannerisms or the corny dialogue to try to use those scenes as life support. It resorts to the urgency of the main protagonist getting out of enemy territory, and that’s usually the most interesting aspect on these kinds of war movies. Especially since Christopher Nolan made that clear with his WWII masterpiece “Dunkirk.”
I liked the performances from Luke Hemsworth (for clarification), Crowe, and Ventimiglia, and I liked the way the characters thrive on certain situations. For example, I was worried Reaper going to the supermarket was a little off-topic and an excuse to have him in this movie longer, but it isn’t. In fact, it shows off a little suspense. That’s just my perspective on that sequence.