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Safe House

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Denzel Washington, and Robert Patrick
Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Screenplay by: David Guggenheim

   Nobody is safe in this safe house.
   Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), one of the CIA's most wanted fugitives has just arrived in a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa, a safe house being watched over by agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds).  When the safe house is attacked, Weston has to go on the run with Frost and find a new safe house where Frost can be held until the CIA takes him for interrogation.  Will Weston be able to hold on to Frost and save the day, or will Frost escape and get Weston into trouble?
   The cinematography of this film makes me want to puke it's so bad.  It can at some points make you feel kind of dizzy or queasy.  It's shot handy-cam style, similarly to Chronicle.  They clearly forgot what a tripod is or how to use one.  The entire movie is shot this way and the scene is rarely very steady.  I think this is the lowest point of the film.
    Ryan Reynolds does a fine job in his role as Matt Weston, but I think this isn't the most suitable role for him.  It would be a more suitable role for someone like Matt Damon.  If you've seen any of the Bourne trilogy starring Damon, you might notice many similarities between the roles of Matt Weston and Jason Bourne.  They're both characters on the run.
    There are extraneous characters who seem to be important in certain parts, but it seems like the story could be told without them.  It's like the film is just trying to take up time, something it should not do because the film could easily be half an hour shorter and still not lose any key elements of the story.
    So basically, I can't say that I recommend this film unless you're a fan of Denzel Washington.  He's great in this movie, but it's not his best role ever.  It's rated R, but I don't see much of a reason for it.  Safe House is only somewhat entertaining, but still thrilling.
    I give Safe House a C.

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