Introduction
Cinema Scholars reviews the new action/thriller, The Enforcer. Starring Antonio Banderas and Kate Bosworth, the film is directed by Richard Hughes in his feature directorial debut. Banderas features as a vicious mafia enforcer who develops a conscience when he gets out of prison, developing paternal instincts toward a fifteen-year-old runaway. Kate Bosworth, playing against type, also stars as a ruthless Miami syndicate boss.
Synopsis
In The Enforcer, Cuda (Antonio Banderas) is a long-time mafia enforcer who has just been let out of prison. Cuda has taken the rap, and blame, for crimes committed by Miami syndicate boss Estelle (Kate Bosworth). A newly freed man, Cuda attempts to get his life back in order and reconcile with his teenage daughter, Lola (Vivian Malkova). However, she wants nothing to do with her father, as she knows what he does in order to pay the bills. As a substitute, Cuda takes a paternal interest in Billie (Zolee Griggs), a teenage runaway.
Cuda gets back into the game by going back to work for Estelle. One of his first jobs is to train Stray (Mojean Aria). A street fighter with a short fuse, Stray is looking for a quick score. Estelle takes him in and he is soon hired to become one of her enforcers, collecting money from those who owe it. Dishing out punishment to those who deserve it. Not much time passes before Cuda starts to act as a mentor toward Stray. The pair bond as they drive around Miami collecting unpaid debt and inflicting retribution.
Stray begins to fall head over heels for nightclub worker Lexus (Alexis Ren) and the two quickly begin a romance. As fate has it, Lexus is also associated with Cuda and Stray’s boss, Estelle. Throughout all of this, Cuda’s fatherly devotion and attention toward Billie is growing. He repeatedly protects her from trouble as well as getting her a motel room so she’ll be safe and off the streets. When Billie is kidnapped, Cuda quickly puts the pieces together. He soon realizes that the enemy is closer than he thinks.
Analysis
Written by W. Peter Iliff (Iron Will, Prayer of the Rollerboys), The Enforcer is exactly what you think it’s going to be, and that’s fine because Banderas is more than up for the task. The film liberally eschews the vast archive of redemption-driven hitman stories, without ever really saying anything unique of its own. Still, Banderas has carved out and honed this silent macho character type for decades now, and he more than makes up for some of the one-dimensional supporting characters that appear in The Enforcer.
Hughes’ direction is competent in his feature debut. Further, he’s doing some decent world-building with regard to the criminal underground in Miami. Once The Enforcer switches into “thrill mode” the uninteresting side characters sprinkled throughout the film become more bearable. While Hughes’ direction is competent, casting is where The Enforcer really suffers. Rapper 2 Chainz is not in any way threatening as a sex trafficker. Also, while Kate Bosworth is giving it her all, she is miscast as the ruthless syndicate boss and killer, Estelle.
In a way, The Enforcer is part “buddy” movie as the characters of Cuda and Stray have an interesting dynamic and chemistry with each other. The street brawler being mentored and guided by the veteran killer is one of the narratives in The Enforcer that actually works. Additionally, the film’s script wisely stays away from too much exposition, which films of this genre are prone to do. However, at the end of the day, The Enforcer is simply a redemption thriller that has been done endlessly and, unfortunately, better.
Performances
At the center of The Enforcer is a solid performance by Antonio Banderas. It also helps that Hughes is a veteran director commercials. As a result, Banderas is framed perfectly. Additionally, Banderas cruising Miami has a familiar, nice feel to it. A neo-noir atmosphere is created for the first half of the film. Even more astonishing is that DP Callan Green actually shot the film in Greece! Still, as good as Banderas is, one can only take so much of a cliched “killer with a heart of gold” schtick before it gets monotonous.
While Kate Bosworth is giving it her all, the veteran actor simply can’t rise above the often ridiculous dialogue she is given to work with. Her performance is one-note and bland. It’s a shame as this is a step down from her fantastic performances in both House of Darkness (2022) and The Immaculate Room (2022). Mojean Aria, as Cuda’s protégé, has undeniable chemistry with Banderas and is by far what works the best in The Enforcer. Still, his character is barely fleshed out and what little backstory he has is not well thought out. Aria is a talented actor and he certainly deserves better.
Zolee Griggs and Alexis Ren are both adequate in supporting roles but at the end of the day, these characters cannot escape the cliches that they are built on. There is a distinct lack of charisma that permeates throughout The Enforcer and it, unfortunately, drags the whole film down. The tale of underworld life has been told many times before. It can only work if the characters are interesting and have something to say. Neither can be said in this instance. As ‘Pay-check’ Luke Bouchier did impress despite the small amount of screen time he was afforded.
Conclusion
Besides the above-average performance from Antonio Banderas perhaps the running time of The Enforcer is the film’s strongest quality. At a brisk 91-minutes, it has little to no exposition, and the side characters and subplots that we care little about, don’t get too annoying. Richard Hughes’s direction, particularly the action sequences, is above-average. Yet, the film’s shallow script makes you feel like this is something you have seen before, and you have. Banderas is great in the film, but aside from that, it’s simply mediocre. Hughes has real talent, and he deserves better material to work with.
The Enforcer is currently in limited theatrical release and available on VOD and Digital platforms via Screen Media.
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