Hardcore Henry (2015)

* Spoiler Free *

Just saw this at TIFF 2015 Midnight Madness. Judging by the constant applause and laughter throughout, the audience LOVED it. I thought it was truly INCREDIBLE and genuinely new... a landmark film. Hopefully that will be recognized without hindsight. I believe Hardcore has the chance to be Star Wars for this generation... or perhaps a Terminator or a Reservoir Dogs. I'm writing this to help ensure that happens. Context: I also thought Crank was great.

The ENTIRE movie takes place in FIRST PERSON point of view (POV). ALL 90 MINUTES. It never gets old and the POV remains a strength throughout. I never got motion sickness (and the movie moves fast - incredibly fast). After the movie, the director mentioned the Vimeo short would be unwatchably choppy on the big screen. 2 engineers spent 2 months creating a special rig with 2 magnetically stabilized GoPros to shoot the film. This new rig is the reason why the audience didn't get motion sickness.

I've never seen action like this. It's not just regular action scenes filmed in first person. It's superheroic parkour, fantastical fights, and video game gunplay all presented in first person. Seen from a regular angle, the action would likely be too cartoonish. The POV helps ground everything, making it more believable. Added Bonus: During many scenes you'll wonder how the POV camerman didn't get killed.

Hardcore is incredibly violent, but rarely nasty. People who play modern FPS's will not bat an eye, others will be shocked and appalled. Expect a lot of controversy when the older crowd expresses grave concern about this film, while the younger crowd rallies behind it. Expect marketing to exploit this generation gap.

Action aside, the movie has an unexpected sense of humour. Some driven by situations, some driven by characters, some thanks to the POV. There's not a lot, but what is there is gold - and a relief during all that action.

The main character, despite never appearing, is able to communicate a personality. I believe FPSs will steal the ideas presented here. The circle is complete.

Which brings me to Jimmy (Sharlto Copley)... Can't say much but he's easily as compelling as the action. His interactions with our hero (the POV) are not straightforward, and always intriguing. Somehow they form a bond, which winds up unexpectedly touching. Before the movie Sharlto said it was the craziest, hardest role he's ever done and it's easy to see why.

The bad? The overall plot is good but not great. The bad guy, beyond being powerful and evil, has less character than the POV. Despite some attempts, women are relegated to lesser roles. (I believe the good far FAR outweighs the bad)

Russian Hollywood has created the best first person shooter ever made. When POV becomes the new bullet time, you can thank Hardcore.