Vanquish (2021)

Directed by: George Gallo | 94 minutes | action, crime | Actors: Morgan Freeman, Ruby Rose, Patrick Muldoon, Nick Vallelonga, Julie Lott, Hannah Stocking, Joel Michaely, Miles Doleac, Paul Sampson, Richard Salvatore, Ele Bardha, Bill Luckett, Chris Mullinax, Nate Adams, Reg Rob, Juju Journey Brener Dylan Flashner, Leonard Waldner, Yvan Gauthier, G. Tremain Merrell, Marty Wilson

Morgan Freeman is 84(!). Most seniors would take it easy and relax. However, this African-American does not like that and continues to stand in front of the camera in old age. Like his limbs, his acting also becomes somewhat stiff. This is very clear from his share in the superfluous ‘Vanquish’…

In ‘Vanquish’ it revolves Damon (Freeman). This retired police officer has a diabolical plan. He wants to get rid of his former colleagues and put an end to the corruption within the corps. To pull this off, he kidnaps the daughter of his caretaker Victoria (Ruby Rose) and forces her to carry out a series of dangerous assignments. This lady apparently has quite a bit of potential to get this job done, because she can work for Damon. Victoria has to pick up five bags. However, these accessories are owned by dubious figures. That’s going to be a fight!

Well. ‘Vanquish’ is the perfect example of form over substance. Director George Gallo does his very best to present his film as beautifully as possible. He succeeds quite well, although at the same time he is his worst enemy. Atmospheric images with beautiful colors are cut to pieces in the editing and fused with meaningless images of talking heads. A motorbike chase scene that is initially quite exciting is suddenly interrupted by a static image of a talking Freeman. He instructs Victoria, who is on the bike, through a headset. As a car speeds after the fleeing Victoria, you suddenly see Freeman’s bored head giving driving instructions. What’s exciting about an old man in front of a screen suddenly saying ‘Turn right!’ and says “Left here” doesn’t get clear.

Gallo has very little to say and not much time put into a proper script. ‘Vanquish’ is a repetition of moves. The time it takes to pick up five bags feels like an eternity. It also doesn’t help that Rose doesn’t make a very good impression and spits out her wooden dialogues with great effort. Freeman doesn’t do much better. Due to the meager budget, the stunts look rather shabby. What remains is an action film that sometimes looks nice, but is usually deadly boring and trivial.