The Old Guard (2020): stop killing me

The scenario starts with the protagonists, Charlize Theron (as Andy) and Matthias Schoenaerts (as Sebastian) to be in Morocco for a reunion with the rest of the squad. We have four immortal people with the purpose to have a good impact to the world, trying to keep their identity secret. It is obvious that the movie has no sexist cliché, as we see Andy being the head of the squad and also their is gay couple between the combat, which the screenwriter, Greg Rucka, elegant depicts to us.

Using an extreme action scene, the director Gina Prince-Bythewood, shows us the moment our main characters get trapped by James Copley (the team’s informer) and revealed their secret. After that, he cooperates with Harry Melling (as Steven Merrick), a wealthy pharmaceutical industry CEO. Who, by the way, I find more malevolent as Dudley Dursley in Harry Potters’ movies. Early in the movie, a new member for the squad comes up placing in Afghanistan and she is an American young marine, Kiki Layne (as Nile Freeman). After she dies and after all survives, Andy is taking her to the squad as an immortal, too. Kiki Layne gives a very convincing and pleasant performance, but still not that much to cover Charlize Theron’s acting. After some action scenes and abductions of two members of the squad by Harry Melling, the rest three go to rescue them. Then something unexpected happens. A traitor between them sh*ts things up, the time everybody notice Andy is no longer immortal. Somebody, though, has to save the day…

The movie has some almost average highlights about the past of the protagonists, showing us parts of their personal story. Although, has an interesting plot in the middle of the movie, like the fight between Andy and Nile in a moving plane and at the very last scenes, where the combat unfolds their talent developing through years using cool weapons and cool martial-arts moves. And finally, of course, a happy expectable ending, which tells you to stay tuned because it will be continued.

Conclusions

‘The Old Guard’ will make you wonder what would you do if you were in the same place as characters in many situations, so you should be prepared for that if you decide to see it that way. So, if you like an intense action movie with bloody scenes and intrigue around entity’s rights and archaic interests to watch during this COVID-interrupted movie season, this is a good choice for you.

Favourite quotes

  • “Nile: So are you good guys or bad guys? Joe: Depends on the century.”
  • “Nile: You said you had answers. Andy: I didn’t say you’d like them.”