Safe House (2012) User Reviews

Nothing really new but a good choice of actors, effects and locations

[kluseba · 7/10 · 22 February 2012]

If you have seen conspiracy flicks like "Enemy Of The State", "The Bourne Identity", "XIII", "Unknown" and so on and so forth, you really won't be surprised by this movie. The story presents nothing new and is about the usual stereotypes: the good one turn out to be the bad ones, the bad ones turn out to be the good ones, the weak ones turn out to be the strong ones and so one. I think you get what I mean. The movie has no big surprises after all.

But if this kind of movie is well done, it can still merit a rating of eight points. I only give six point five and for this site seven points because of the mediocre camera work that was shaking and irritating at some points of the movie.

The rest of the film is quite decent. The locations are interesting and the movie takes place in Cape Town in South Africa and not in Europe or North America. The fighting and action scenes are very well done and with the visual and sound effects in cinema, it's a pleasant entertainment to watch this movie for sure. It's a good flick to change your mind, to relax and to take a break from your everyday life for sure. The acting is also rather good with two strong lead actors that are a very cool Denzel Washington and a sympathetic and determined Ryan Reynolds.

The only little flaw is that I would have liked to know more about both characters, especially about their past and what really led them to do what they actually do in the movie.

The movie simply has not the greatest script to stand out among many other similar flicks but it's still a good film. I would suggest you to rather watch the movies I talked about in my introduction or classics like "I As In Icarus" but if you have seen and liked them all, you will surely appreciate this work, too.

Reynolds & Washington a Strong Duo

[FFman-847-460126 · 7/10 · 11 February 2012]

It is so very difficult to find new material when you piece together a governmental conspiracy movie. Safe House is able to do it to a point. The greatest success of this movie is the usage of modern film techniques. Too often the bulging budget and ability to edit in effects makes action/thriller movies extremely unrealistic. Safe House does the opposite. It takes all of these techniques and uses them to make the movie raw and real.

The actors were hand-picked perfectly for their roles. Ryan Reynolds is the actor you have to use when you want to put a likable, relatable family man in a difficult situation. As a CIA operative caught up in something far outside his experience, he fits in perfectly. As for Denzel Washington, there is little that he can't do. For the unique character of Tobin Frost, there is no better man to fill the role. Together they form a storyline that merely needs to be able to stand on its own two feet. The storyline does stand on its own. That being said, it is the weakest part of the movie. The twists have all been seen before. This movie doesn't offer new plot points to the old conspiracy theory movie. It merely adds new characters. The new characters are great, but it is not enough. In order for the movie to be great, it needed to give something new to the story.

I must say that the end was beautiful. Without giving anything away, it was gracefully preformed. It wrapped up the loose ends that too many other movies simply leave hanging. It adds a whole other dimension to Ryan Reynolds' character. It will, without a doubt, leave you wanting more but somehow completely satisfied.

Safe House is worth a trip to the theatre. With thrillers such as this one, the action is better on the big screen. Between the action and the actors, you will not be disappointed. Next to Liam Neeson's The Grey, this is one of the best action movies so far this year. The thing is, it could have been even better. Too bad.

reillyreviews.wordpress.com

Great story, GREAT acting, bad camera

[rooprect · 14 March 2020]

"Safe House" is an action packed thriller about a lone rookie CIA agent attempting to 'escort' his high profile prisoner back to CIA headquarters. If this brings to mind the classic films "The Gauntlet" (Clint Eastwood), "Midnight Run" (Di Nero) or even "Silence of the Lambs" (Anthony Hopkins), then you know what I'm talking about when I say "great story". Similarly the acting is fantastic; you can't go wrong with Denzel Washington who has a way of raising the bar for all actors on a production. My one big problem, as a couple other reviewers mentioned, was the jarring, unnecessarily shaky camera and rapid fire edits that upstage the power of this film.

Ryan Reynolds plays the rookie "Matt" who's basically just a housekeeper at a CIA safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. One day they bring in "Frost" (Denzel Washington) who is basically James Bond with a bad attitude. One thing leads to another, bodies pile up, and Matt finds himself attempting to bring in Frost all by himself, despite a few armies of thugs & spies hot on their trail.

What makes this film work, much like in "Silence of the Lambs" is the dynamic between the fresh faced rookie and the wise Mr. Miagi prisoner. As events unfold, we see a pupil/teacher relationship develop even though the teacher is supposedly the bad guy. Ryan Reynolds, just like Jodie Foster in Lambs, pulls this off perfectly by seeming young & inexperienced without seeming stupid. On the teacher side we have the excellent Denzel Washington who, just like Anthony Hopkins, conveys a magnetic aura of authority and control, even though he's the one in handcuffs (or in Lambs, a restraining hockey mask). Of course "Safe House" is more of a fast paced action flick than the slow psychological "Silence of the Lambs", and that leads me to my criticism.

This is just a personal opinion, but I feel like the hyper chaotic camera work and ADD edits killed a great opportunity for a powerful presentation. Note to directors: when you have a colossus like Denzel Washington in front of the camera, just tell your camera man to chill. Tell the gang in the editing room to put down the scissors. Just let the talent speak for itself.

Instead--I'm not exaggerating here--I started counting at least 1 cut every 2 seconds. And even when the camera was given more time, it would be constantly shaking, zooming in & out, darting about the room like a paranoid crack addict looking for a Starbucks caffè latte. I realize that this was a conscious stylistic choice, and definitely this chaotic style works to elevate bad productions to passable. But when your underlying material is GOOD, then why distract the audience with camera theatrics?

Ok I'm done with my opinion. Back to the facts. This is a good movie. It has a great story. These are great actors. Regardless of how you prefer your cameras & edits, it's worth checking out.

Predictable but Entertaining, Excellent Performances

[bdgill12 · 7/10 · 22 February 2012]

I'm of the opinion that out of all the movie stars and would-be movie stars in Hollywood, Denzel Washington is one of, if not THE, safest bet. I say this because I don't think I've ever met a person who dislikes the man. In a culture that is built upon strong opinions and holding to said opinions fiercely (this is the backbone of the industry in many ways), it is a remarkable feat to put together a 20+ year career like Denzel has without drawing the ire of someone or some group. Age, race, and gender seem to matter not when it comes to Denzel, whose films almost always find a way to exceed expectations whether they are magnificent (Training Day, American Gangster) or wholly lackluster (John Q, Unstoppable). There is an overriding sense among a high percentage of moviegoers that if Denzel is in, so are they. Safe House, a solid if uninspired action thriller, has proved this theory to be true. Instead of the undercover investigations and shoot outs he expected when he joined the CIA, Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) has been relegated to manning a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. He is bored and he wants some action, a desire that is all too well fulfilled at the outset of the film when former CIA agent-turned-traitor Tobin Frost (Washington) is brought to his house for interrogation. Soon after his arrival, a militant force arrives to take possession of Frost, killing the highly-trained team that brought Frost into the house. With no other option, Weston grabs Frost and makes a bolt for it, barely escaping the unknown villains who killed his comrades. With no other teams in the area, Weston's superior, David Barlow (Brendan Gleeson), tasks him with keeping Frost alive and in custody until he can be collected, a proposition which turns out to be much more difficult and complex than Weston would have ever imagined. With the assailants hot on their trail and Frost crawling deeper and deeper in Weston's head, the young agent must think fast and learn on the run before he becomes another casualty of a dirty battle that Frost has sucked him into. There are a few departures from the main storyline at work within Safe House but these distractions are only there to lengthen the film and add some uninteresting depth. This film lives and dies on the performances of Reynolds and Washington, both of whom come through beautifully. It's been a rough year for Reynolds whose star status has been thrown into serious question with the failures of Green Lantern and The Change-Up. This role, however, is a better fit for him, allowing him to share the load with an established genre veteran instead of being relied upon to carry a major film on his own. I was pleasantly surprised at his ability to give Weston more depth than what you usually get with this sort of film and I thought he hit the right balance between being a half- terrified, inexperienced field agent and being that hardened, "see this thing through to the bitter end" character that Safe House had to have. Washington, meanwhile, is a tour de force, exuding both charisma and menace in just the right amounts. Always a commanding presence on the screen no matter what his role, Washington is at his best when delivering his lines in that quiet, calm, measured manner which he has become famous for and this is a role that calls upon that ability several times. I can't say that this is one of Washington's best portrayals and it's certainly a safer choice than I'd like to see an actor of his caliber make, but it is nonetheless a reminder of exactly why just about everybody digs what this guy has been selling for two decades. Every other element of Safe House plays second fiddle to the work done by the two leads. The action is intense and somewhat gritty; when a shot is fired, you feel it as much as hear it, a characteristic I quite like in a serious action film. The plot itself is rife with generalities and clichés, making the film about as paint-by-numbers as they come. Personally, though, I didn't get caught up in these half-hearted missteps too often. Better choices could certainly be made; the major "twist" could be seen from a mile away and the conclusion was unsatisfactory for me. But given director Daniel Espinosa's relative inexperience behind the camera and the sheer power of Washington's star appeal, these are issues I found easy to overlook as the film progressed. It's nothing new and it's not a film I want to watch a dozen times over but for what it is, Safe House provides an entertaining and appealing experience.

Fulfills Its Popcorn Intentions But Little Else

[Simon_Says_Movies · 7/10 · 12 February 2012]

Safe House is a movie that fulfils its popcorn intentions, but metaphorically brings to mind the image of a bobble-head – a bloated brain supported by little else, springing uncontrollably in different directions. When the action ramps up, Safe House is at its best, providing ample energy, a plethora or gunplay and a number of gritty combat sequences. When pausing to forward the plot, spew exposition or focus on perfunctory romances, it grinds to a halt. Safe House would be better viewed with a remote equipped with a fast forward button nearby.

Thankfully for Safe House, the sequences with action outnumber those without, so it comes out on top on a percentage basis alone. What makes it slip just out of the realm of solid praise is that it really fails as a tense, psychological duel of wits. I mean c'mon you have the one of the coolest actors working today (Denzel Washington of course) trying to escape his confines with only a lowly safe house guard (Ryan Reynolds) in his way – use it! The trailers and radio ads prominently feature the line "I'm already in your head", but the movie itself offers little in the way of subtle manipulation or mind games. All we get are a few scenes where Washington's Tobin Frost intimidates the crap out of the inexperienced operative and forebodingly warns that the CIA will screw him one day.

Now that I've kicked this movie while it's down, let me tell you what it does very well: bloodshed. I already mentioned the ample high-octane set pieces, but of course volume of action does not always translate directly to a solid film ("Transformers" springs to mind) it has to bring something to the table. Safe House earns its R-rating in many an instance with sometimes uncomfortably realistic shootouts, brutal interrogations and wonderfully choreographed (but wince-inducing) hand- to-hand combat sequences. If you think that John McClane looks rough at the end of a "Die Hard" flick, wait until you see how Reynolds looks when the credits roll. Refreshingly, this is not the kind of movie where a character is shot, grits his teeth a little bit, holds his wound and then ten minutes later they have apparently forgotten about it. You feel every punch and when somebody gets stabbed they writhe on the floor in pain and when somebody gets shot they are likely not getting back up.

There are also a handful of lengthy chase sequences through the streets of Cape Town, a soccer stadium and the slums of Langa and in all instances deliver. They are easy to follow, high-energy and far more real-world than we're normally accustomed when talking about a Hollywood car chase. In all of these sequences (automotive or otherwise) we have Reynolds front and center. Safe House is really a Ryan Reynolds movie masquerading as a Denzel Washington film, though that is not to say Washington is relegated to a just supporting role, it is simply more focused on our in-way-over-his-head rookie than the lethal pro. Reynolds is the surprise here, not only holding his own against the veteran but delivering his best mainstream performance to date (there is not a hint of his wise-cracking The Green Lantern or Deadpool characters to be found here).

Curiously, there were very few one-liners delivered by Washington and though he oozed charisma through his presence alone, I would have liked to see a little more sizzle; one more duty that lands on the script, which just offers nothing in the way of interesting dialogue, insights into the mind of a killer or even a brisk pace for that matter. As a movie to pop in the DVD player with some buds, however (one that you can tune out the downtimes between action set pieces) it delivers absolutely and does offer one of the rarer instances for Washington to do his bad guy thing – a welcome sight.

Rating: 6.5/10

Fast-paced fun with two outstanding leading men performances!

[Hellmant · 7/10 · 15 May 2012]

'SAFE HOUSE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Denzel Washington is teamed with Ryan Reynolds for this action/thriller buddy film. It was directed by Daniel Espinosa and written by David Guggenheim. It tells the story of a rogue CIA agent fugitive and a rookie CIA agent on the run together after the safe house the fugitive was being held at is attacked. Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson and Sam Shepard costar. The movie is intense, fast-paced fun with two outstanding leading men performances.

Washington plays Tobin Frost, a former CIA agent who is said to have gone rogue and is now their most wanted fugitive. Reynolds plays Matt Weston, a rookie CIA agent who is tasked with guarding a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. When Frost turns himself in to the American Consulate, in order to avoid capture by mercenaries pursuing him, he's taken to Weston's safe house. While Frost is being interrogated mercenaries attack the safe house and Frost and Weston flee. Weston tries to keep Frost under control while avoiding their pursuers and trying to make their way to another safe house. In the process he learns from the veteran CIA agent and begins to question his guilt as the two, of course, oddly bond.

Washington and Reynolds aren't the best pairing but both do their parts well. Their characters are fully developed and interesting. The directing is energetic and sufficiently flashy as well, keeping the story going at just the right pace to keep it involving. Not a masterpiece but still an entertaining suspense thriller.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNk88XWi4A4

I just never cared!

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 17 July 2012]

Once again we have the CIA (bad CIA! Bad!) doing things that we can't really comprehend. Whose side are you on? Your side! No, I'm on my own. We have this guy doing incredible things. He risks his life time after time for the company and we'll dump him the minute things start to become suspect. Then we have Denzel Washington's character. Who is he? Why is he so important? He has a slip of paper with names on it. They can implicate the company. How did he get that? Why does he have this incredible power over everyone? On and on. The protagonist spends his time getting beaten to a series of pulps (somehow he can still walk) for what? Nobody trusts him. He is captain Ahab after America's most successful black actor, or is he. Where do his loyalties lie? I don't get it and I don't care. It's just a muddled script that throws in a series of narrow escapes just to sort of keep us interested.

I did not expect it to be this good.

[Nesvrstani · 9/10 · 9 February 2012]

I'll be honest. When I saw the trailer, I was madly excited. It looked fantastic. But then, after a while, I remembered, that the main point of a trailer is to do just that. Hype the film, while revealing literally all the main plot scenes and parts. I didn't know if it was the case with 'Safe House', since, hey, it's Denzel Washington. That man doesn't just do any role.

I just got back from the movie theater, and am I glad that I was wrong. The movie is fantastic, electrifying. Do know that I don't just 'get off' on any action flick. In most cases, I just watch and forget. This was actually, fantastic. I don't have a single bad word to say about it, the way it was directed, acted or anything else. Everything was simply fantastic.

I realize my words sound absurd, and the score looks the same, but it really is worth it. I didn't see an action movie this well written, and this well acted in a really, really long time. Of course, by the end of the movie, any experienced watcher will figure out the ending by himself, but even though you 'get it', it's still extremely fun to sit through and see how the pieces connect.

I really hate long reviews, so I'm trying to make this one as short and sweet as possible. Lastly, have in mind that not one cast member failed his role. Ryan was fantastic, even better then I could've imagined (a nice showing of his acting skills after Green Lantern and Change-Up), and Denzel, what to say that hasn't been already said about that man's acting. Phenomenal doesn't cut it.

Go and see it. It's much better then anything else thats currently 'showing'.

Disappointing

[jacco59 · 6/10 · 3 March 2012]

I was really expecting more. A spy-thriller with these two playing the lead roles? Sign me up! But I was disappointed. The story, which is fairly generic, could've been enhanced and made more entertaining by the camera-work and the acting performances, but sadly both weren't very good at all. The camera-work is often wobbly, which is acceptable in small amounts during action scenes because it makes the scene more realistic, but in this one it's just used too much and sometimes even outside of action scenes. And the acting...again, I was really expecting more. Denzel Washington is a personal hero of mine, but in this film he either doesn't get enough dialog to display the talent he has, or he has somehow lost it. And Ryan Renolds...well I never really liked him, but I thought he'd be perfect for this part. As it turns out though, someone like Ryan Gosling would've been much better at displaying the emotions that the character of Matt Weston is overpowered by near the end. All in all this film is no more than just another spy thriller, and certainly not something I would ever watch again. Pity.

The usual action guff

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 21 October 2014]

SAFE HOUSE is a South Africa-filmed action flick that inevitably finds itself heavily indebted to the whole Paul Greengrass BOURNE style in the tale of a cop and a crim who have to team up when they find themselves pursued by a ruthless and murderous gang.

What we have here is an entirely familiar film that nevertheless manages to score a few points along the way, mostly in the action stakes. For SAFE HOUSE is a fast paced, action-oriented movie that features a handful of breakneck shoot-outs, and a film that's held together for the most part by another assured role for Denzel Washington.

Washington can do these kinds of roles in his sleep by now, and it's fair to say that the character of Tobin Frost is hardly a stretch. Nevertheless, he's the best thing in the film by far, delivering a kind of laconic toughness that really works in its favour. Ryan Reynolds is, inevitably, less impressive as the forgettable younger lead, but there are a handful of decent supporting parts for the likes of Liam Cunningham, Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, and Robert Patrick.

While the plot is routine to say the least, SAFE HOUSE at least looks good and the cinematography is strong. The plot has its share of twists and turns to keep viewers engaged, and I thought the violent but inevitable climax was particularly decent. Not a great film then, but a solid one nonetheless.

Good

[greatbigsquirrel · 6/10 · 12 February 2020]

Fell asleep during movie. Liked it. The nap, I mean.

This is NOT a safe house.

[JohnDeSando · 9 February 2012]

"I'm not your only enemy tonight." Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington)

In Safe House, Tobin Frost is one cool fugitive, but then he's played by one of Hollywood's coolest actors: Denzel Washington. Guarding him is young CIA agent Matt Weston played by the prominent film actor, Ryan Reynolds. Together they make good acting possible; if only this crime adventure would let them.

Instead, their moments are mere interludes to the cacophony of guns and gore, a smorgasbord of thriller clichés planted in neat rows by director Daniel Espinosa and blossoming glass and guts ad nauseam. As the cool Frost escapes numerous captures and Weston follows him (they've discovered the "safe house" is not so safe), I wish they'd sit and talk for an hour because the older agent has much to tell the younger about love (Matt has a questioning girlfriend) and survival in the den of thieves known as espionage—global that is. Frost has a computer file with the names of bad cops, some of them friends and supervisors. So nobody's safe.

Among the vulnerable are seriously good actors like Sam Shephard, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, and Robert Patrick. The shame is they have parts so formulaic as to obliterate their acting excellence.

Anyway, you get the routine. The only surprise is that this type of film continues to entertain us even when we know the plot points. In part that's because we like to see good/bad guys played by the likes of Denzel work their way through some challenging puzzles and achieve some success just as we try to do in our daily lives. Also we get to see multiple car crashes without being in them, a wish we may have subconsciously when we experience road rage.

I suggest you leave your rational hat at home (most of the plot makes little sense) and wear your thrill-seeking one because this film will fulfill all your demands for excitement without touching a nerve in your left brain.

Gritty, Intense and Keeps you Entertained

[Floated2 · 7/10 · 12 December 2013]

Having passed upon seeing Safe House, I didn't have such high expectations as I was expecting another typical big budget action thriller. However, upon viewing Safe House, my expectations were met and a little more. Safe House is fairly predictable and doesn't contain the best story but the film has a certain charm that is lead by its lead actors Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds. Right from the start, Safe House wheels you in and it becomes a great thrill ride.

Safe House was far grittier than expected and more so than the typical Hollywood fares nowadays. It fits its R rating appropriately as it doesn't shy away from the violence. The stunts are also well performed. Washington and Reynolds is what specifically makes the film great as they made a great duo and made their roles believable as ever.

The film really picks its pace once we see the first encounter between Washington and Reynolds. We then see how they communicate as it is clear they do not like one another, then as the film progress they become closer (which is expected). Including some great action scenes such as a very thrilling car chase scene where Reynolds kidnaps and takes Washington with him, realizing they are being chased by folks of the mafia government. The film really hits at the scene where Reynolds takes Washington to the sporting event (about 50 minutes in), and we witness the havoc commencing. It follows by Washington escaping, under the loose and Reynolds being taken by the police. From there on out is where I think the film picks up.

The ending could be seen as a cop out and is fairly predictable, where they could have went another direction, as the rating lowers for myself. However it was understood why it all happened. Safe House is what is advertised. As a rewatch 11.25.20' and over 8 years since the initial theatrical release, Safe House holds up well and is a great and thrilling ride.

Quality Genre Pic

[douglasmcbroom · 7/10 · 21 May 2021]

This film is every bit as good as the 'Bourne' Franchise, and of course, Denzel Washington is a much better actor than Matt Damon, but also as it turns out, so is Ryan Reynolds. Denzel fought for Director Daniel Espinosa and he was right as this film grossed over $200M. It's taught, suspenseful, violent-but not overly so-and the script does not strain credulity nor cause you to suspend belief. It also features a nice change of pace backdrop in Cape Town, SA. Veterans Sam Shepard and Brendan Gleeson add able support.

Mindful of Action, Mindless of Everything Else

[or243 · 6/10 · 26 February 2012]

BOOM, BANG-BANG, POP-POP-POP, BOOM! &c. As such, for a flabby 117 minutes, Safe House proceeds, leaving one's ears ringing but eyes fixated.

A self-indulgent and proud-of-it action bonanza, Safe House's grainy cinematography depicts CIA rookie Matt Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) desperate struggle to survive, as he attempts to transport the most- wanted Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) from an ambushed Safe House to a, well, safe Safe House.

Considering the appraisable coherency of my plot description, it's a shame that the film makes no such effort in clarifying the tortured narrative: we are simply left to deduce, from the familiarity of its iconography (complete with gun-toting Arab mercenaries and corrupt American bureaucracy), what's going on. But why concern yourself with what's going on, when, really, you're there (as I was) for the explosions, thrills, and the unimpeachable Denzel Washington. Any man named 'Denzel Washington' is bound to be cool, but the actor's effortlessly suave and engagingly modest portrayal of the ex-CIA-man (turned traitor) Frost is helplessly cool. Combined with that typical underlying pathos and affability, Washington's reprisal of the anti-hero (as opposed to sheer villainous) character is welcomed. (He can add it to the list including Training Day (2001) and American Gangster (2007), albeit, in terms of quality, beneath these.) Swedish director Daniel Espinosa has torn pages – quite loudly – from Tony Scott's book, who, in turn, is Washington's usual go-to director for action. Sub-Scott, regardless, Espinosa relentlessly pumps the gauge of (entertaining and well-orchestrated) action, complete with car chases and crashes, infinite ammunition, intense close-quarters combat, and thunderous sound-mixing (my ears really did ring!).

I yawned at the prototypical political coda disturbing the general mindlessness of the story. National Security is a disgrace, I know. The CIA is a hotbed of corruption, we get it. (But think, if it wasn't, you'd eliminate an entire generic motif!) The only glimpses of integrity offered by the narrative are those nuanced psychological instances of irony, as when Reynolds's rookie forces himself to torture an aggressor for information, having previously condemned the water-boarding of Frost. But they're scattergun in approach, and not as interesting as guns. I should (re)mention the cinematography, and commend the brave decision to purposefully dull and degrade the image, removing the gloss, and echoing (with deep nostalgia) those long-gone action extravaganzas of the late-80s and 90s. However, the film craves very little comedic relief (even Reynolds' tones himself down to become near-tolerable!) and stays away from awkward one-liners. Not much is said, in fact, as it flicks back-and-forth from Washington-and-Reynolds and the CIA headquarters, itching for the next startling explosion of action.

This much can be said for Safe House: it'll keep you crunching the popcorn as it crunches through skulls, without even making you hesitate to consider how dissatisfying popcorn (or skull-crunching, for that matter) actually is.

And so, I'm resolved to reward Safe House six stars: one for the choreography of the action, one for the anchoring performances, and one for its marvellously indulgent dedication to an increasingly gadgetised genre. But, left wanting narrative and stylistic fulfilment, I must keep them other four stars in my pocket.

An action film by the numbers

[bowmanblue · 6/10 · 10 April 2015]

Denzel Washington plays an ex CIA agent/special forces operative (to be honest, I forget) who gets captured and taken to the (official) CIA's most inept hideout which is promptly overrun by baddies and everyone is killed. Everyone that is, apart from plucky Ryan Reynolds who is basically the CIA's caretaker of the unsafe safe house. He therefore has to rescue Washington and escort him to safety, all the time being pursued by baddies who can wipe out a professional CIA team in seconds, but can't shoot an untrained agent and his shackled prisoner.

I can suspend my disbelief to accept all that. There's car chases, slick camera work, shoot-outs and punch-up - pretty much everything you'd expect from a modern action film. But it's still only average. The only thing that elevates it from being VERY average is Denzil Washington who, as usual, turns in a pretty decent performance, given what he has to work with. He snarls, charms and punches his way through most situations and Ryan Reynolds seems to have good chemistry with him in his attempts at keeping him both safe and cuffed at the same time.

If anyone else was in the film it would simply be average, but if you like the sound of another car chase-laden action film with a better than average cast, give this one a go. It might be slightly longer than your average action flick, but it's entertaining enough not to bore.

Liked its action but the movie itself, not so much.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 6/10 · 13 February 2012]

This is one of those very typical modern action flicks you could easily do without. It's certainly not bad but it most certainly isn't great or very memorable either.

The one thing I still did really liked this movie for, was its rawness. It's a very raw shot and feeling movie, in which the action is mostly being realistic, instead of very over-the-top or spectacular. And yes, the action moments are definitely the highlight of the movie and the one thing that makes this movie still worthwhile. It is very obvious that director Daniel Espinosa had watched a lot of Tony Scott movies. But just like most Tony Scott movies, this one is very mediocre.

You could like the movie for- and say it is being original for not having really a clear main good and bad guy in it. Basically nobody in this movie is fully good, which also provides the movie with a couple of twists and surprises, in its story. You are constantly torn between who to pick sides with; the Denzel Washington or the Ryan Reynolds character, who are in a cat and mouse game together and have about an equal amount of screen time. I however would in this case preferred it if there was a more clear good guy and a truly evil and obvious bad guy because now you don't really know who to really root for. This really doesn't make this movie the most involving one.

You are also really never getting into the story because of that. It besides just simply doesn't have a very interesting or original story to begin with. It really also isn't told in the most intriguing way and the movie actually more often comes across as messy and hard to follow. Or maybe this is just because I really couldn't care about anything that was happening in it.

The actors still know to add to the movie though. Denzel Washington always has been great in these type of roles and Ryan Reynolds is also OK enough, just never really all that likable. It also has a solid supporting cast with actors such as Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Liam Cunningham and Robert Patrick involved. Just don't expect anything too great from them though, since all of their roles are quite limited.

All in all, really nothing too bad but it still remains a movie you could very easily do without ever seeing.

6/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

"Safe House" is a exhilarating action thriller with explosive stunts and sequences.

[deanccastano · 9/10 · 7 February 2012]

One of the CIA's most wanted, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), is back on the run after a ten-year disappearance. This alerts the CIA and sends their team to a gripping chase in Cape Town, South Africa. At a remote location, the CIA's safe house is guarded by a rookie operative, Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds). The house have been empty for years, involving no guests or action. At the arrival of Frost and the intelligence, a brutal investigation occurs. Phased by the presence of a notorious criminal, Weston becomes nervous and confused. In the midst of questioning, mercenaries invade the house and begins a killing spree in an effort to kidnap Frost as well. Frost reminds Weston, that as a house guest, he is to be protected. This sends Weston to a dizzying panic and eventually escapes along with Frost.

"Safe House" is a exhilarating action thriller with explosive stunts and sequences. The team behind the film stages multiple exciting scenes that involve beat down rooftops in the rural areas as well as heart-stopping car chases along the streets. Frost is an intelligent man. Being a former intelligence, who's gone rogue, he knows the rules and procedures. Most of the time, he's fascinated by watching Weston carry out his duties. Weston is continuously conflicted, looking for ways to hide Frost. Yet, Frost never makes it easy for him, as he tries to escape as well. Weston communicates with one of his supervisors, David Barlow (Brendan Gleeson), to determine their next move. But, the gunmen are determined to kill Frost, forcing Weston to take matters into his own hands.

Denzel Washington is an actor full of intensity. He can sit there and watch Reynolds do his thing and still convey the deepest of his character's emotions. He gives Frost both a terrifying presence and a sympathetic feel. Ryan Reynolds, on the other hand, manages to stand along Washington and give the same intensity. His wits and charisma works perfectly for his distressed rookie persona. The film succeeds best because of this tandem, allowing the actors to build a good enough relationship to carry out the entire film.

"Safe House" is a great action thriller with non-stop action. This is the first mainstream feature for Daniel Espinosa and he comes forth as promising due to his skillful camera work with the action scenes. One of the most impressive is the rooftop chase at night. The editing is pitch perfect as it allows the audience to feel the danger of the situation from each point of view. This film could have been bleak and predictable if the leads were miscast but Washington and Reynolds' enigma make the film satisfyingly fun and fresh.

deanslisters.tumblr.com

The high-octane action it packs from start to finish promises a thrilling, adrenaline-pumping ride- but this is no Bourne despite its ambitions at being so

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 8 February 2012]

You can gauge how enduring a movie will be just by looking at the number of films of the same genre that boast a similar style, and when it comes to CIA espionage thrillers, it's safe to say that the Bourne trilogy has become something of a cultural touchstone. There are plenty of similarities between Swedish director Daniel Espinosa's first Hollywood film 'Safe House' and the latter two pictures of the Bourne trilogy- and we're not simply talking about the fact that both of them centre around an expert CIA operative (think the best of the best) gone rogue.

The enigma in this case is a certain Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), who dropped off the grid nine years ago but has since re-emerged in Cape Town in possession of some sensitive intel courtesy of a contact that he has in MI6. When his contact gets shot and he ends up cornered following an intense foot chase by some armed mercenaries, Tobin checks in at the U.S. Consulate and is immediately picked up by Langley. As the bigwigs (played by a classy trio of Sam Shepard, Vera Farmiga and Brendan Gleeson) scramble from back at headquarters behind their computer screens, Tobin is transported to a safe house for interrogation- though as the extraction team led by Robert Patrick's Daniel Kiefer quickly discovers, their tactics are no match for the man.

Little is particularly inspired in David Guggenheim's story, but if there is one thing that he gets right, it is turning this CIA thriller into an odd-couple pairing. So at the safe house, Tobin will meet rookie agent Matt Weston, a low-level "housekeeper" who can hardly wait for his Langley boss David Barlow (Gleeson) to transfer him into the field. The encounter between the grizzled veteran Tobin and the naïve newbie Matt turns out something like Denzel's Academy-Award winning movie 'Training Day', and Matt quickly learns over the course of one harried day that things aren't always as simple as they seem.

Their initial mutual distrust makes for gripping viewing, as Espinosa keeps his audience on tenterhooks wondering when and how the wily Tobin will give his captor the slip. That waiting pays off immensely when Tobin finally pulls the rug from under Matt at a crowded Green Point Stadium (one of the Cape Town's landmarks on account that it hosted the 2008 World Cup) in a thrillingly-choreographed sequence that is quite simply the highlight of the entire film.

But every subsequent skirmish with the same band of mercenaries who raided Matt's safe house for Tobin leads Matt to question if there might be some truth in Tobin's accusations of corruption at the highest level, especially since their assailants always seem to be one step ahead of them. It's no secret how it turns out, and indeed when the big reveal comes, it's probably safe to say that you would have already guessed it.

In place of a plot with little surprises, Espinosa has opted to emphasise Matt's transformation from fresh-eyed agent to disillusioned operative, pausing for effect during some crucial scenes for his audience to appreciate Matt's predicament. His efforts at character development are only half-successful- not only is there little time in between the exploding mayhem, the lacklustre script that possesses none of the dramatic heft compared to 'Training Day' does it no favours as well.

Worse still, the intriguing psychological interplay between the two characters is replaced halfway through the movie by an altogether more straightforward cat-and-mouse game as both men team up to stay ahead of the mercenaries. The action after this point is relentless, exploiting the locations in and around Cape Town for maximum thrills- and while action junkies may find good reason to cheer at the non-stop on screen bombast, others looking for the smarts and flair of the Bourne series will likely be disappointed.

That doesn't mean that it doesn't try hard to emulate the franchise; besides being shot in the same shaky-cam style (right down to having the same d.p. Oliver Wood), the action design- from Denzel's fighting style to the use of locations (a chase along the rooftops of a shantytown outside the city is particularly reminiscent of 'The Bourne Ultimatum') also hews closely to that in the trilogy. It still manages to get your adrenaline pumping all right- especially given Espinosa's keen sense of pacing- but the sense of déjà vu that one gets after watching this film is unmistakable.

There's however no mistaking Washington's distinctive presence- though the 57-year-old actor can't match the physical agility of Matt Damon, he looks just as formidable and commanding with his signature poise. From critically-acclaimed dramas in the 1990s, Washington has in recent years- under the stewardship of Tony Scott- redefined himself as a compelling man of action, and this latest performance looks set to cement that reputation. Reynolds is on the other hand too nondescript to make much of an impression, his blandness even more pronounced next to Washington.

Pity then that with such a gifted actor like Washington, this isn't the thinking man's action movie that it aspires to be thanks to lazy formulaic scriptwriting. It is nonetheless an assured Hollywood debut from Espinosa following his critically-acclaimed Swedish hit 'Snabba Cash' (or 'Easy Money'), and more than offers tense thrilling action for those in need of an adrenaline fix. The next Bourne it definitely is not, despite its obvious attempts at trying to be so, and this remains safely in the territory of slick action thrillers with more style than substance.

Tense action thriller

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 21 October 2017]

Denzel Washington plays a rogue CIA agent hotly pursued by enemy agents who hands himself into the US. embassy in Cape Town as a way of escape from them. He is then taken to a "safe house" where he is to be interrogated but things go awry when the house is attacked by other agents wanting him. A young inexperienced CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) must then try to take control and get the rogue agent to another safe house.

This is the kind of film in which the audience doesn't know the good guys from the bad, including the CIA agents. There are double crosses and tons of explosive action, with plenty of hand held camera fast edit action scenes from director Daniel Espinosa (there's a certain edgy power here, though too much of it can get on my nerves after a while). There is also a harrowing waterboarding scene.

Washington's character, while considered a traitor to the U.S., is also regarded as a legend within intel circles, having been successfully on the run and eluding all attempts to capture him for a decade as he spills out secrets on various intelligence agencies for the money. Washington plays him as a cool professional, virtually unruffled by all around him, even during an interrogation in which illegal methods are employed against him.

In a film in which so many characters are scummy or potentially scummy, I found myself rooting for Washington. Rogue agent or not, he is one cool customer, and I had to admire his style. Of course, Washington is a powerful screen presence. Any time he's on screen it's all but impossible to take your eyes off him.

Ryan Reynolds, as the somewhat naive CIA agent dealing with him, is adequate, no more. The rest of the cast, including Sam Shepherd as the head of the CIA, is quite good.

Danzel Saves What Really Is A Mess

[hrmnrabb · 10 February 2012]

It's an interesting albeit predictable action flick that's nothing special but delivers enough to make it worthwhile. It does feature what has to be the dumbest CIA operatives/handlers ever put on film. What transpires, especially early, will make most viewers say "why in the world didn't they just…" but getting past that means enjoying a film where Denzel Washington perfectly menaces and charms his way through every scene. Put just about anyone else in this role and the film would lose a lot. Ryan Reynolds was good enough and the rest of the stellar supporting cast is absolutely wasted. Again, I found it interesting despite it being three repetitive acts of mindless turns highlighting that the government is pure evil and they apparently keeping hiring the same set of mindless goons who race around guns blazing everywhere with little effect or competence whatsoever. Also, the camera work was AWFUL in terms of the overuse of the shaky cam.

Fast-Paced Fun!

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 28 March 2015]

'Safe House' is a fast-paced action-thriller, that works at most parts. It entertains ably & doesn't leave you bored even for a minute.

'Safe House' Synopsis: A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.

'Safe House' has a consistent fast-pace, which frankly is the best aspect of the enterprise. It doesn't waste time & progresses with its story, efficiently. Of course, there are clichés & even the villain's identity doesn't come as a shock, its a tad predictable. But keeping aside a few flaws, 'Safe House' weights heavier on merit.

David Guggenheim's Screenplay is well-done, although a few clichés act as a deterrent. Guggenheim's Direction, however, is top-class. He's handled the film exceedingly well. Cinematography is edgy. Editing is twisted, yet crisp. Action-Sequences are super-effective.

Performance-Wise: Denzel Washington is powerful, yet again! He steals the show. Ryan Reynolds displays intensity. Vera Farmiga is fantastic. Brendan Gleeson is alright. Sam Shepard is capable. Nora Arnezeder is very good in a brief role.

On the whole, 'Safe House' is a good watch!

Denzel Washington delivers once again

[estebangonzalez10 · 7/10 · 24 April 2012]

¨Remember rule number one: you are responsible for your house guest. I'm your house guest.¨ I can't remember ever watching a Denzel Washington film and being disappointed; he always seems to bring his game or at least choose interesting projects because I always end up enjoying his movies. He is one of the best actors of our time and he is really entertaining. Safe House may not be original or have the best script in the world, but it does have plenty of thrills and good performances to keep you at the edge of your seat throughout the movie. It has several similarities with the Bourne franchise, although not nearly as well crafted. This is a movie that won't stick with you long, but it is good enough to entertain you for two hours and put a smile on your face. I know I can always count on Denzel Washington, and this movie is also powered by Ryan Reynolds performance as well. Both actors bring their A game and deliver a solid entertaining film. I don't know how relatively unknown Swedish director, Daniel Espinosa, got such talented actors to star in his film, but he can be thankful for it because this movie probably wouldn't have worked without them. The script written by David Guggenheim isn't original, several scenes are predictable, but that didn't ruin the film for me. I still had a great time with Safe House. I really didn't like some of the shaky camera work, but I guess it's a trend for several directors these days.

Denzel Washington is Tobin Frost, a former CIA agent who is now one of the most wanted men in the world after going rogue and selling classified information. He runs into a former MI6 agent in Cape Town, South Africa who gives him a disk containing what would seem as some very important information because as soon as he receives it he has dozens of people shooting at him and running after him. Frost has no other alternative but turn himself in at the United States consulate office before these men can get to him. Frost is taken to a Safe House which is guarded by rookie agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds). Matt's contact is David Barlow (Brendan Gleeson) who lets him know that the guest will be arriving soon. When Frost arrives along with the CIA team they are ambushed by the same men that were after him before, and Matt has no other choice but to escape with Frost before these guys get to him. Matt has to deal with protecting Frost while at the same time not allowing him to escape and also figuring out who he can trust in the CIA agent because apparently someone is trying to get to them. Matt is forced into having to protect the enemy, but he will soon find out that the enemy could also come from within.

Safe House will probably be one more of those movies you will forget all about because it lacks originality and has nothing memorable about them, but I guarantee you will be entertained during two solid hours thanks to some good performances from Washington and Reynolds. There are also some interesting secondary actors like Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, Ruben Blades, Robert Patrick, and Sam Shepard who bring their talents to the table, but the truth of the matter is that the success of the film relies entirely on Reynolds and Washington who have proved yet again to be great and entertaining actors. These guys are doing what they do best: action thrillers and despite not having remarkable material to work with they still manage to entertain and keep us at the edge of our seats. Safe House is an enjoyable film, but just don't expect much more than that. Not among Washington's best work, but even mediocre Washington can carry a movie.

http://estebueno10.blogspot.com

Stellar Action and Performances,however,it's Simply not that Compelling,

[lesleyharris30 · 7/10 · 8 February 2015]

Safe House is a good movie with a well developed storyline and a very impressive cast.Throughout the movie I really enjoyed the action sequences and the performances,particularly Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds,who worked very well together.Howvever,I kept feeling like there was something missing,something that was making me not enjoy this movie as much as I could have,eventually it hit me,that it's simply not compelling enough,the characters are taken in to this big adventure way too quickly and the audience aren't given enough time before hand to get to know them,and because of this we are left feeling little affection or care for them as they are taken on this journey.I felt there were definitely scenes filmed that would have helped with character development but it felt quite obvious to me that it was poorly edited,because there were certain scenes missing that I couldn't put my finger around why they were not there,then it hit me that the editor made a few big mistakes,for this type of story it certainly could have been at least twenty minutes longer.Though it has its flaws,Safe House is still a very enjoyable film that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good action or crime film if you ever see it on television.

A seasoned CIA agent must go rogue while an idealistic rookie tries to figure out the truth.

Best Performance: Denzel Washington

Jason Bourne style movie

[rgcte · 6/10 · 20 November 2021]

5.5/10. Another movie you can watch in the background. Action scenes were okay but the plot wasn't great, couldn't keep me interested throughout. Film felt laborious to watch if this was 1 hour 30 minutes it would be more manageable. I'd suggest watching a bourne film instead of this lack lustre film.