The Foreigner

The political backstory is rather far-fetched, though beautifully pulled off by a convincing Brosnan. But Jackie Chan is a badass, for real. I’m going on fifty and when I get home with my groceries and the lift is out of order, I panic at the thought of having to climb the stairs all the way to the sixth floor :o), whereas Jackie, at his blessed age, does one split jump after another and leaps across rooftops like a youngster. He’s a real fighter. I have to get his cardiologist’s number :o). (09.04.2020)

Jackie Chan, under the direction of Martin Campbell, has made quite possibly his best film in the last five years and it's nice to see that he is still in form, it's just a pity that the real action only comes at the end. The fight in the woods and the confrontation in the house are very solid, Pierce Brosnan is fine as the villain. Story-wise it could have been more interesting, and I found the first half hour a bit annoying as the stubborn Jackie went a bit overboard with the constant questioning of his daughter about the killer, but otherwise a decent flick that doesn't offend. Next time less politics and more action and it'll be a 4. 70%. (06.12.2017)

Amazing! This movie absolutely reminded me of the reasons why I love Jackie Chan so much. Foreigner is a film that cleverly mentions still existing European terrorist organisations and their relationship with the political scene of that particular country. At the same time, it is dynamic and funny and sixty years old Jackie Chan steals all the action scenes for himself. Although during 30 percents of the fight scenes he looks like he will die of a stroke, he still manages to perform amazing somersaults and twists. I was really excited. This was exactly the kind of simple, stylish blockbuster full of European locations whose drive reminded me of Liam Neeson’s recent action movies and good old French crime films because of its thoughts and humanity. (07.01.2018)

A real political (non) action thriller made in the old school way is the best policy. It is perhaps only hampered by the excessive Vandammian split between the two approaches; Chan's “(all) capable rambo-retiree having a vendetta" and Brosnan's “ambivalent intra-party IRA / Sinn Féin plotting". It seems that Chan's story line was additionally incorporated into Brosnan's. Because it plays a leading role and stands on its own (after all, Quan's actions have no effect at all it, everything would take place in exactly the same way without him). In any case, both story lines work great, but each on its own and there is no point in denying that even if they intersect in terns of plot, their style is completely different. Otherwise I think it´s great. Provided that you expect something in the style of a more chatty variation of Belmondo's Professional rather than Neeson's Taken. (15.01.2018)

The Foreigner is a decent thriller in which Pierce Brosnan’s politician is a more interesting character than Jackie Chan’s avenger. Brosnan is a British Kevin Costner – a charismatic nice guy who, however, can also be a great fit for a dark role when he decides to take one from time to time. Do not expect to see too many of Chan’s fights, as they serve just to spice up the story of dirty political schemes with undertones of IRA terrorism, which the film presents to the audience in an attractive way with rising tension and pushing the characters into a corner. And frequent explosions. I enjoyed it, mainly because of the great Brosnan and his Irish accent, and also thanks to Cliff Martinez’s score comprising electronic music, which is seldom used in this particular movie genre. (22.01.2018)