A highly entertaining sci-fi action romp that stars an on-top-of-his-game Frank Grillo and a grizzly Mel Gibson in bad guy mode, Boss Level makes the most out of its time-loop structure while an unexpected emotional depth surprises with its poignancy.
If you were to choose any film star as an action movie avatar, Frank Grillo would surely be your man. Chiselled out of granite and cocksure in his swagger, Grillo has steadily made a name for himself as an old-school throwback to the kind of action heroes who could probably kick your ass off-screen as well. Boss Level, one of eight films Grillo will star in 2021, is perhaps his best action-man performance yet. Reuniting with The Grey director Joe Carnahan, Boss Level is an ultra-violent, kick-ass sci-fi action thriller that is as infectious in its energy, as it is surprisingly heartfelt in its approach towards the connection between time and man.
Grillo stars as Roy Pulver, a retired special forces officer whose boozing, womanizing ways costs him his relationship to scientist Jemma (Naomi Watts) and estrangement from their young son Joe (Rio Grillo). We first meet Roy 139 days into a mysterious time loop, in which a cavalcade of vibrant assassins murder Roy in a multitude of ways. When Roy realises he can save Jemma from the murderous, cigar chomping big baddie Col. Clive Ventor (Mel Gibson), Roy snaps out of his time-loop stupor and sets to make up for the regrets of yesterday by embracing the opportunities of today.
Time-loop movies have become increasingly popular over the years, with the likes of Looper, Source Code, and Palm Springs recent entries. Carnahan adds his own twist to the time-loop shenanigans by infusing a tribute to 8-bit arcade video games such as Beat ‘Em Up classics “Renegade” and Streets of Rage. While history has shown that adapting the video-game format to the film screen is difficult, Carnahan has cracked the code with Boss Level, resulting in an energetic tapestry of violence and resurrection.
A slew of imaginative kills features Grillo shot, stabbed, run-over, decapitated, and blown up by numerous hitmen, assassins, and straight up loons, Carnahan no doubt evoking his 2006 cult-classic Smoking Aces for inspiration. Unlike that film, the action scenes in Boss Level are thankfully much more visible, digestible, and entertaining, with great work by fight choreographer Bryan Sloyer, cinematographer Juan Miguel Azpiroz (Wheelman), and editor Kevin Hale (The Grey) in getting the right presentation to the films larger than life violence.
Grillo is a hoot as Roy, delivering a great action performance and an on-key comedic timing, especially with the films narration that is both engaging and entertaining. Mel Gibson brins that grit and gravitas to the big boss baddie role of Ventor, delivering the films best lines and hitting those beats in bad-guy monologues that roll out of his mouth with the same flowing ease as his cigar smoke. Michelle Yeoh brings that martial arts gravitas in a small yet pivotal role.
Co-written by Carnahan, along with Chris and Eddie Borey (the pair also receiving story credit), Boss Level surprises with its dramatic elements in which discussions of life, time, regret, and the opportunities to make things right, are well-woven in an action spectacular. The scenes between Ray and his young son Joe (Rio Grillo) are especially touching.
Boss Level is a labour of love for Carnahan and Grillo (who also produces), with the film surviving all kinds of development hell for almost a decade. The time and effort was well worth it, with Boss Level a boss of a sci-fi action film.
