Close Review - Fresh, Intense, Tangible Action, Solid

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Category: Streaming, Cable

Published on Saturday, 19 January 2019 09:23

Written by Janet Walker

Close, an original Netflix film, brings to the screen a contemporary race against time thriller as a complicated heiress and a reluctant bodyguard team up against a team of hired hit men who are determined to kill them.

Directed and co-written by Vicky Jewson, Close, stars Noomi Rapace, Indira Varma, Sophie Nelisee, Eoin Macken, and Charley Palmer Rothwell, Huw Parmenter.

Close begins in what appears to be Taliban country, Sam, played by Noomi Rapace is escorting two individuals supposedly press when they are overrun. In minutes she has changed the situation from fluid to stable, subduing the terrorists and taking their truck securing safe passage for the clients.

Back home, out of the line of fire and in a safe zone, a phone call cracks her usual solid façade and renders her unable to handle things she should be able to complete blindfolded. Hitting the treadmill, dismissing the brief emotional flare-up she returns to the tactical machine.

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As she clocks the miles the background news is running the story of the death of Hassine Mining President. That night she receives an assignment offer, 10K for a week long protection gig. Accompanying an heiress from London to Morocco. After a brief hesitation she agree.

Rima Hassine, played by Indira Varma, the apparent heir to the company her family founded, is attending the funeral of her husband, who mysteriously died of a heart attack.

Her stepdaughter Zoe, played by Sophie Nelisse, is the last to arrive. After the service, the unfortunate business of death comes to the fullness when the bulk of the company shares, nearly three billion US dollars is given to his only daughter, Zoe.

The estate sets up further contention between the two women. With both expected to return to Morocco to complete a deal that was initiated by her late husband which was poised to make Hassine Mining the largest mining company in the world.

Once they arrive in Morocco, Sam who is expected to fly out the next morning her week completed, stays for the night. Taking a tour of the fortified house, which is as we are told, the top of the line, built in security features, retractable bullet proof window and door covers, automatic locks, smoke deterrent, and steel fortified doors.

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As Sam is resting the exterior window shade begins to close, she is able to wedge furniture between the doors and the walls to stop from being locked inside the room with no exit and sees the front door accessed by terrorist. The limited security on site is unable to stop the house from being overrun.

Sam, while not still on the clock, feels a commitment to helping Zoe, who appears to be the target of the attack, escape.

This is where Close moves into the Second Act. The action sequences that follow are razor sharp, carried out with precision and not as choregraphed as most would think. Keeping it real, the writing team has created action sequences that follow the storyline naturally and are fresh.

Speaking with the Director, Vicky Jewson, she explained that while she has her talent go through some steps, the reality of real situations required controlled but unknown action and reaction. What follows as the two escape becomes a test of Sam’s wherewithal and her ability to tap into every skill set she has acquired to determine who is behind this attack.

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Sophie Nelisse, who plays Zoe, a twentysomething sheltered rich heiress with limited real world knowledge and certainly no people skills slowly begins the transformation and hits the arch until she becomes a sympathetic character.

The cast is brilliant led by Noomi Rapace, Sophie Nelisse and Indira Varma. The trio of strong, determined women, where each is working through life-altering emotional issues while dealing with unnatural. intense, critical and out-of-control external situations.

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Close, while on the surface seems like a bad ass chick film and in reality as we find out the new global Corporate world where eliminating or clearly squeezing the competition for leverage is common practice.

Tough, uncompromising, a solid story, palpable intrigue with shocking action scenes, Close begins its streaming run on Netflix today. See it, twice, or more.