There are more levels of meaning to this film than may be obvious. With the number of highbrow story elements compressed into 100 mins (causality loops, DNA coded missing mass, Egyptian mythology and catastrophism) it would have been very easy to overwhelm and confuse the audience with too many ideas - but Boss Level doesn't. The story is well told, very well paced and seems to make a point of intentionally evolving from chaotic and complex to calm and clear. Clive Ventor's plan is horrific but logical and it's eventually revealed that Roy Pulver really only ever had one job from the start. When he devises his final, final, final, FINAL plan, despite everything that's happened, it makes perfect sense and also provides a valuable message about not giving up - even when you know the situation is completely hopeless.
What could have been just a nihilistic Groundhog Day shoot 'em up turns out to be something far more intelligent and emotionally engaging. Good ending too.
650 Reviews
A surprisingly good movie
85122213 March 2021
Greetings from Lithuania.
After i read a premise of "Boss Level" (2021) is decided to watch it as a guilty pleasure on a boring evening - i did not believed this movie will be any good somehow but i liked the premise on paper. What i can say after watching it, is that you don't judge a book by its cover, because "Boss Level" really delivers.
This movie was superbly paced - at running time 1 h 38 min it never dragged and was interesting from start till finish. The story here was an interesting one and involving. Directing was very solid and basically because of good directing this movie was actually really good one. Action scenes (and there are plenty of them) were very well made.
Overall, "Boss Level", no matter how stupid its title is and it maybe sounds on paper - was actually a very entertaining flick. Don't take it too seriously and you will be pleasantly surprised.
After i read a premise of "Boss Level" (2021) is decided to watch it as a guilty pleasure on a boring evening - i did not believed this movie will be any good somehow but i liked the premise on paper. What i can say after watching it, is that you don't judge a book by its cover, because "Boss Level" really delivers.
This movie was superbly paced - at running time 1 h 38 min it never dragged and was interesting from start till finish. The story here was an interesting one and involving. Directing was very solid and basically because of good directing this movie was actually really good one. Action scenes (and there are plenty of them) were very well made.
Overall, "Boss Level", no matter how stupid its title is and it maybe sounds on paper - was actually a very entertaining flick. Don't take it too seriously and you will be pleasantly surprised.
hey this is a good movie!
tjasnow10 March 2021
The trailer actually makes this seem goofier than it actually is. time loop stories are actually difficult to tell. Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow are gold standards but this does a pretty good job - taking you on the same ride as the protagonists as he learns more and more about what's happening and how he can change the outcome. Another surprisingly enjoyable part of the movie is the dialogue. It's very of aware of either itself or the corny cliches of other action movies and Frank Grillo does a good job of delivering the snark. Get comfy on the couch with a few beers and enjoy watching this one.
Groundhog day meets Crank
danielcereto19 February 2021
This movie is just for fun. Do not take seriously and enjoy the ride. Pure action, good acting and acceptable (not great) FX'S. Frank Grillo is still
believable as an action movie star and Mel Gibson is great as a villain too. So, forget twists and great scripts and enjoy the ride, just for fun.
Sci-fi action Groundhog Day.
deloudelouvain29 March 2021
I just watched Cosmic Sin a couple days ago, another movie with Frank Grillo, and that wasn't a pleasant experience at all so I wasn't sure about Boss Level once I saw he was in it. But in Boss Level there is also Mel Gibson and Naomi Watts, both actors that I can dig, so I felt a bit more confident. In Cosmic Sin there was also Bruce Willis, but lately that's far from being a good thing as he seems to have lost it and just gets involved in bad movies. Boss Level is enjoyable to watch, and even if you think it's going to be yet another version of Groundhog Day (how many times more can they make a repetitive day movie?) this one is actually not that bad. There are a lot of good action scenes, with good choreographed fighting scenes and creative killings. Although repetitive it's never really boring, on the contrary the little changes in the story make it unpredictable and intriguing. Boss Level is a good sci-fi action movie that is easy to watch.
Awesome fun
Clive_W16 February 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this action flick, if your looking for a bit of fun, good action, and enjoy "groundhog day" style story this is worth checking out. Some wonderful little one liners, and a sense of enjoyment from frank grillo in the leading role, frank seems to be having a great time in the role. Get some popcorn, and some fizzy in, sit back and enjoy.
Yesss that's a fun movie!
ThomDerd28 February 2021
Frank Grillo at his best, supported by a good cast and a cool script. The one-liners are a highlight in this film, as they give away the smart, fast-paced story and the swag of Grillo as an action lead actor. The action starts right away; this is not a boring movie by any means. Can't say much about the plot as this might be a spoiler but if you like action/comedy/sci-fi with a big splash of coolness, then that's your jam! 9/10 for the fun!
Dumb Fun. Nothing More.
bbevis-4795414 March 2021
Boss Level is a good time killer.
Pros:
Cons:
Overall Boss Level is a fun movie you can burn 90 minutes watching and not regret it. I would love to see Frank Grillo in some more serious action roles like the long gestating remake of The Raid.
Pros:
- Frank Grillo. The guy oozes charisma.
- Ground Hog day time twist provides plenty of opportunities for mayhem.
- Some funny moments throughout.
- Guan Yin.
- Cartoonish and over the top tone.
Cons:
- Boring story moments. Any of the lulls between the action.
- Gibson underutilized.
- None of the action sequences stand-out.
- Inconsistent VFX.
Overall Boss Level is a fun movie you can burn 90 minutes watching and not regret it. I would love to see Frank Grillo in some more serious action roles like the long gestating remake of The Raid.
What Did I Just Watch?
rolytnz9 December 2020
....a freakin' awesome movie is what I just watched.
Give me some leeway here, as this is my first IMDB review. The way I judge a film is primarily is when I finish watching I ask myself "Was I entertained enough to such that I would pay to see that again?".
While I admit openly that my threshold for entertainment is low, this one far exceeded that.
I have seen Frank Grillo in a few movies, he seems like a bit of a B-Grade Action Movie Guy - boy was I wrong. My opinion has changed greatly such that I shall go seek out other Frank Grillo movies.
As the main guy Boss Level, he delivered an outstanding performance. His blasé deadpan attitude was very funny - after all he is a guy who was just over it, starting each day, dying, rinse and repeat,
There are some real parallels with Groundhog Day on the journey he takes - the ups and down, and how he games it to his advantage.
Mel Gibson was ok, a typical Action Move Antagonist - some of the other quite unique characters maybe be somewhat clichéd, but still very funny.
There are no Oscar's here, then again who cares about the Oscar's anymore? What I want is entertainment, and that is what I got, and then some.
Give me some leeway here, as this is my first IMDB review. The way I judge a film is primarily is when I finish watching I ask myself "Was I entertained enough to such that I would pay to see that again?".
While I admit openly that my threshold for entertainment is low, this one far exceeded that.
I have seen Frank Grillo in a few movies, he seems like a bit of a B-Grade Action Movie Guy - boy was I wrong. My opinion has changed greatly such that I shall go seek out other Frank Grillo movies.
As the main guy Boss Level, he delivered an outstanding performance. His blasé deadpan attitude was very funny - after all he is a guy who was just over it, starting each day, dying, rinse and repeat,
There are some real parallels with Groundhog Day on the journey he takes - the ups and down, and how he games it to his advantage.
Mel Gibson was ok, a typical Action Move Antagonist - some of the other quite unique characters maybe be somewhat clichéd, but still very funny.
There are no Oscar's here, then again who cares about the Oscar's anymore? What I want is entertainment, and that is what I got, and then some.
Painful to get through
artistmk9 March 2021
This movie is all over the place. We expect a level of repetition but this was way over the top and not at all meaningful. If it wasn't the same scene, it was the same line being repeated and offering no value to the storyline or even comedic relief. Mel Gibson drones on and on. The supporting female actress is unmemorable. If you want to see Frank Grillo with his shirt off, then this movie is for you. If you actually like science fiction and time travel movies, there are way better choices than to suffer through this. Go watch Edge of Tomorrow, Next, or Groundhog Day. If you've seen those, watch them again and be glad you didn't watch this.
Welcome Frank Grillo
johnnyhbtvs2726 August 2021
Fun movie with good support from Mel Gibson & Naomi Watts, Frank Grillo is great in the lead. Overused premise recently but enough comedic moments and fun ideas to keep it fresh. It's a real shame it hasn't received a decent release, hopefully between Hulu & Amazon Prime it picks up a decent amount of buzz for a sequel (never going to happen but hey)
Uneven but above average sci-fi thriller
wellthatswhatithinkanyway17 August 2021
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Morning * Monday Morning
Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is a former special forces operative, who wakes up every day to relive the moment he was killed at the hands of a group of assassins. After thwarting their efforts to kill him in various differing ways each day, he is left to retrace the events leading up to his death, calling in on his research scientist ex Jemma (Naomi Watts), who's discovered her boss, Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson) is up to something dodgy, and may hold the key to his present predicament.
With a minimum of publicity, Boss Level, the latest film to explore the well trodden concept of time travel, arrives on Amazon. Director Joe Carnahan employs the same style he used in his previous Smokin' Aces, at least at the start, with a slick, snazzy visual style that jumps out and grabs you by the throat. The video game style 'Attempt No. ...' that spring up on the screen alluding to each effort to kill the lead character give a frivolous, throw away impression that conflicts tonally with the darker, more reflective feel the writing develops later on.
Cast wise, Russo has presence as a cynical, wise-cracking action hero, with the veneer of a modern day Bruce Willis, and he's matched by Gibson, who in his later years, employs the same zaniness and intensity that used to make the action heroes he played in his younger days so cool work well in villainous roles. The plot requires a bit of sticking with, but if you give it chance to develop, it emerges as more intelligent and considered than it at first seemed, even if it sadly does allow itself to meander away and drag on at the end.
It's Groundhog Day meets Kill Bill, basically, a worthwhile effort that, while maybe not quite the sum of its parts, is still a superior, above average film that is ultimately a pleasant surprise. ***
Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is a former special forces operative, who wakes up every day to relive the moment he was killed at the hands of a group of assassins. After thwarting their efforts to kill him in various differing ways each day, he is left to retrace the events leading up to his death, calling in on his research scientist ex Jemma (Naomi Watts), who's discovered her boss, Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson) is up to something dodgy, and may hold the key to his present predicament.
With a minimum of publicity, Boss Level, the latest film to explore the well trodden concept of time travel, arrives on Amazon. Director Joe Carnahan employs the same style he used in his previous Smokin' Aces, at least at the start, with a slick, snazzy visual style that jumps out and grabs you by the throat. The video game style 'Attempt No. ...' that spring up on the screen alluding to each effort to kill the lead character give a frivolous, throw away impression that conflicts tonally with the darker, more reflective feel the writing develops later on.
Cast wise, Russo has presence as a cynical, wise-cracking action hero, with the veneer of a modern day Bruce Willis, and he's matched by Gibson, who in his later years, employs the same zaniness and intensity that used to make the action heroes he played in his younger days so cool work well in villainous roles. The plot requires a bit of sticking with, but if you give it chance to develop, it emerges as more intelligent and considered than it at first seemed, even if it sadly does allow itself to meander away and drag on at the end.
It's Groundhog Day meets Kill Bill, basically, a worthwhile effort that, while maybe not quite the sum of its parts, is still a superior, above average film that is ultimately a pleasant surprise. ***
Blood Squibs Aplenty
swordsnare26 September 2021
Reasonable take on the Death-Loop genre, the likes of the Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow, Happy Death Day, etc. Not to be taken too seriously as it doesn't take itself that way. Expectations were meet as a means of escapism. If you're squeamish over blood and guts action, this movie isn't for you.
An Imperfect Movie with a Perfect Message
stephn-184-53201520 June 2021
Of the many cringe-inducing b-movies featuring b-list Hollywood's stars, this one is actually meritorious. Frank Grillo has on-screen presence that perfectly suits his role as a detached father, macho military man caught in a mysterious time loop. The directing of this film is very well executed, revealing plot points at just the right moments that keep the story evolving right until the final frame.
Along with the gratuitous action scenes, you're suddenly sideswiped with an emotional element that blows away all the CGI explosions, guns, and graphic sword fights.
Naomi Watts as the scientist love interest and Mel Gibson as the penultimate antagonist balances out the star power wonderfully.
Whatever wince-worthy instances that occur are overcome with the timeless lesson of facing your most personal fear with renewed resolve.
Along with the gratuitous action scenes, you're suddenly sideswiped with an emotional element that blows away all the CGI explosions, guns, and graphic sword fights.
Naomi Watts as the scientist love interest and Mel Gibson as the penultimate antagonist balances out the star power wonderfully.
Whatever wince-worthy instances that occur are overcome with the timeless lesson of facing your most personal fear with renewed resolve.
Why so underated?
Exiled_Jedi13 March 2021
Never understood why some movie titles are so underrated.
The movie is quick, with a video game culture in it, funny, with quantum-mechanics paradoxes, and somehow Grillo managed to support the whole project appropriately.
Also Mel Gibson matured pretty well having some great lines in the movie regarding the horror of Violence and War (reminding Colonel Kurzt).
9/10. It could be 10/10 but it had a clueless ending something it might bother the viewer.
The movie is quick, with a video game culture in it, funny, with quantum-mechanics paradoxes, and somehow Grillo managed to support the whole project appropriately.
Also Mel Gibson matured pretty well having some great lines in the movie regarding the horror of Violence and War (reminding Colonel Kurzt).
9/10. It could be 10/10 but it had a clueless ending something it might bother the viewer.
Fun, watchable, the odd laugh out loud
gchewy2 April 2021
Extremely derivative, so null points for that, but doesn't take itself seriously, in fact it and it's characters seem to poke fun at the whole thing, so a moot point.
That aside, it's fun, well played and whilst it could up the pace at times, it never loses your attention and gives a few giggles amongst the action, with a few belly laughs thrown in.
Also liked the ending, I thought by not taking any obvious path it stayed true to the film's lighthearted thrust.
That aside, it's fun, well played and whilst it could up the pace at times, it never loses your attention and gives a few giggles amongst the action, with a few belly laughs thrown in.
Also liked the ending, I thought by not taking any obvious path it stayed true to the film's lighthearted thrust.
Fun movie with an amazing Frank Frillo
CountJonnie23 August 2021
Frank Grillo does Groundhog Day on steroids, where he not only has to save the world and the ones he loves, but also has to find back the man he once was.
The movie is pretty sloppy and a little too cartoonish at moments, but it has a delightful speed and never gets boring. The best quality however is Frank Grillo who singlehandedly puts a soul in this movie, especially near the end where for a moment you forget that it's an action film and are able to forgive the crappy ending as well as the fact that a cardboard Mel Gibson phoned his lines in.
The movie is pretty sloppy and a little too cartoonish at moments, but it has a delightful speed and never gets boring. The best quality however is Frank Grillo who singlehandedly puts a soul in this movie, especially near the end where for a moment you forget that it's an action film and are able to forgive the crappy ending as well as the fact that a cardboard Mel Gibson phoned his lines in.
What's missing?...
rsvp3214 March 2021
No identity politics, no social agenda, no special interest group pandering! No alienating half the audience!
Just high level entertainment, sci fi, humour, action, and excellent acting.
It's been a while since I've seen one this satisfying to watch
Just high level entertainment, sci fi, humour, action, and excellent acting.
It's been a while since I've seen one this satisfying to watch
I didn't enjoy this and i am a big fan of Grillo but he shud avoid doin such films n avoid Bruce Willis like plague.
Fella_shibby27 February 2021
Frankly Grillo is in very good shape. The film has the same repetitive stuff again n again.
The plot n ending is terrible.
After a while the film is not able to hold attention cos of the monotonous stuff.
Naomi Watts is totally wasted n the less said bah Mad Gibson, the better.
Definitely enjoyable
akinewphianx21 July 2021
better than I thought it would be
ivko4 September 2021
I won't reveal much in this review that you couldn't get from the movies overview description (meaning I don't consider this review to have spoilers), but I will mention some details of the high level plot structure that could allow you to guess events in the film, so if you are particularly spoiler adverse you may want to stop reading.
This movie starts as a typical action film, kind of a poor mans Edge of Tomorrow, with some unknown force causing the protagonist to relive his day over and over until he dies. As per the usual recipe, he tries a number of strategies to deal with his imprisonment like giving in to despair, drowning in booze, killing the bad guys with extreme finesse, etc. It's fun, but nothing the audience hasn't seen many times before.
In the second half of the film the protagonist starts focusing on unraveling the mystery and spending time with his family. The more time he spends, the more he realizes how much his lifestyle has cost him precious moments that he can never truly get back, causing him to grow as a human being. Again, it probably isn't anything the audience hasn't seen before, but for me this is where I started really enjoying the film.
The movie reaches its conclusion after the protagonist solves the mystery and has a moment of personal growth, but must still clear one last hurdle to achieve his happily ever after ending. The fact that the movie doesn't show the audience what happens past a certain point is simply to underscore that it ultimately doesn't matter. The important event was his personal growth; whether he succeeds or fails on the final hurdle is not as important as his realization of what is important in life, which is kind of a nice ending.
I enjoyed the movie; for a low budget action comedy I thought it had some good heart. That said, the movie is full of one-note characters who never grow or change, only the main character experiences any kind of growth or interesting development, with some antagonists so cookie cutter that the main character notes that their monologues don't change no matter the circumstances. But I think sometimes there's only so much you can ask from a film like this, so it didn't bother me overly much. Would I watch this several times? No, but I think you could enjoy it as a fun diversion for a couple of hours.
This movie starts as a typical action film, kind of a poor mans Edge of Tomorrow, with some unknown force causing the protagonist to relive his day over and over until he dies. As per the usual recipe, he tries a number of strategies to deal with his imprisonment like giving in to despair, drowning in booze, killing the bad guys with extreme finesse, etc. It's fun, but nothing the audience hasn't seen many times before.
In the second half of the film the protagonist starts focusing on unraveling the mystery and spending time with his family. The more time he spends, the more he realizes how much his lifestyle has cost him precious moments that he can never truly get back, causing him to grow as a human being. Again, it probably isn't anything the audience hasn't seen before, but for me this is where I started really enjoying the film.
The movie reaches its conclusion after the protagonist solves the mystery and has a moment of personal growth, but must still clear one last hurdle to achieve his happily ever after ending. The fact that the movie doesn't show the audience what happens past a certain point is simply to underscore that it ultimately doesn't matter. The important event was his personal growth; whether he succeeds or fails on the final hurdle is not as important as his realization of what is important in life, which is kind of a nice ending.
I enjoyed the movie; for a low budget action comedy I thought it had some good heart. That said, the movie is full of one-note characters who never grow or change, only the main character experiences any kind of growth or interesting development, with some antagonists so cookie cutter that the main character notes that their monologues don't change no matter the circumstances. But I think sometimes there's only so much you can ask from a film like this, so it didn't bother me overly much. Would I watch this several times? No, but I think you could enjoy it as a fun diversion for a couple of hours.
video game Groundhog Day
SnoopyStyle25 March 2021
Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) wakes up to a repeating time loop being hunted by a series of outrageous assassins. He is killed every time for unknown reason. On the previous day, he meets up with his ex Jemma Wells (Naomi Watts) who is working on a time-space machine run by Colonel Clive Ventor (Mel Gibson).
The first twenty minutes is a crazy action film. It's glorious fun. Then A-lister Watts and former A-lister Gibson show up. It loses a bit of steam while it lays a plain vanilla sci-fi story. I do like some of the personal story but the movie just couldn't maintain its momentum. Also, I'm getting tired of the Gibson rehabilitation tour and Will Sasso is not a heavy. They both take away from my enjoyment. This starts with lots of kinetic fun and it stays somewhat compelling all the way to the end.
The first twenty minutes is a crazy action film. It's glorious fun. Then A-lister Watts and former A-lister Gibson show up. It loses a bit of steam while it lays a plain vanilla sci-fi story. I do like some of the personal story but the movie just couldn't maintain its momentum. Also, I'm getting tired of the Gibson rehabilitation tour and Will Sasso is not a heavy. They both take away from my enjoyment. This starts with lots of kinetic fun and it stays somewhat compelling all the way to the end.
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