Today’s quick review: The Foreigner. After his daughter dies in a bombing by an IRA splinter group, Quan Ngoc Minh (Jackie Chan), a Chinese immigrant to London, goes looking for the ones responsible. When the police fail to identify the bombers, Quan turns to Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan), an Irish politician with ties to the IRA, for answers. But Hennessy refuses to help, forcing Quan to use violence to get the information he needs.
The Foreigner is a crime drama about a grieving father’s quest for revenge. Jackie Chan stars as Quan, a determined man whose combat skills make him more than a match for Hennessy and his organization. Pierce Brosnan plays opposite him as Hennessy, a semi-reformed IRA member who has his hands full dealing with the aftermath of the bombing. Interesting conflicts, strong acting, and some well-placed action make The Foreigner an engrossing watch.
The Foreigner draws much of its strength from the conflicts it sets up. The backbone of the story is a power struggle within the IRA, with Hennessy trying to track down the rogue bombers while convincing the British government he has the situation under control. Quan is a wildcard who causes even more chaos as he searches for the bombers. The result is a nicely complicated plot where no single faction is in control of the outcome.
The Foreigner builds on this plot with strong character work and satisfying action. Jackie Chan makes for a compelling protagonist: not quite a hero, but a man coping with his grief through a methodical campaign of violence. Pierce Brosnan holds up his end of the story, a politician caught between a rock and a hard place. Meanwhile, the action punctuates teh film nicely, with grounded stunts that have just enough flair to them to be exciting.
The Foreigner is a solid choice for fans of the grittier side of the action genre. The movie strikes a nice balance between plot, character, and action. It is not as single-minded or as redemptive as some revenge stories, but it manages to hold its own thanks to its well-crafted story. Those looking for Jackie Chan’s usual flashy stunts and upbeat sense of humor should steer clear.
For a crime thriller about a parent using violence to avenge a child, try Taken, Death Wish, The Brave One, or Edge of Darkness. For an action movie about a soldier pushed too far, check out First Blood. For another dramatic movie from Jackie Chan, try Little Big Soldier.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid craftsmanship.