Review - Wanted

Studio/Production Company: Universal Pictures
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Written by: Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan
Rating: R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality
Release Date: June 27, 2008
Genre: Action
Strong Points: Stylish action; interesting concept; visually striking cinematography; everything is completely over the top
Weak Points: Movie lags a bit in the middle; writing and acting is sometimes a little lame
Technical Score: B-
Artistic Score: B+
Final Score (not an average): B+
Moral Warnings: High level of graphic violence throughout; some sexuality is shown, though not graphic; rear nudity in three situation; very strong profanity; lots of blood and gore.


In 2003, comic book writer Mark Millar started a series called Wanted, a strange take on the traditional “superhero” genre. In it, the superheroes were all dead: the super-villains, in this world, had banded together and killed off every last hero in the bunch. The world, then, saw the effects of this, and became a dark and foreboding place. In the series, a character named Wesley Gibson, a typical office worker who hates his life, discovers that his father—who was recently killed—was a world-class super-villain, and that Mr. Gibson has inherited his powers. And so he begins to move into the criminal underworld, joining an organization called the Fraternity, after being recruited by another villain named Fox, turning an ordinary life into anything but.

Throw that out for the movie.

Yes, Wanted stars a man named Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), yes, it has the Fraternity, and yes, it has a woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie), but make no mistake; this is not a movie about super-villains. This is a movie about assassins, a movie that has a strong message (much like Fight Club and The Matrix) that revolves around office workers in dead-end jobs. This is a movie about becoming what you’re supposed to be, for those who care. For those who don’t, this is a movie about stylish gunplay and crazy action and stunts.

Director Timur Bekmambetov is a Russian director who gained international attention with his work on the Russian films Night Watch and Day Watch. The movies showcased an eye for spectacular shots and visuals on a lower budget than most Western directors are used to (both Watch movies were turned out on a budget of $4.2 million each). With a bigger budget, more able actors, and an excellent script, Bekmambetov turned out the most stylish, intense, and downright fun, movie since Zack Snyder’s 300.

So, yes, Wesley Gibson is a nobody, an under-appreciated office worker who is mistreated by his boss (she snaps a stapler near his ear to punctuate her points), his best friend (he’s sleeping with Wesley’s girlfriend), and his girlfriend (see previous). He’s depressed and can’t find a way out of—what he feels is—a hollow, pointless life. In comes Angelina Jolie as Fox, offering a way out by saving Wesley’s life, resulting in the first of several intense, visually enthralling, exhilarating car chases.

The movie doesn’t really let down from there, though it begins to drag on towards the middle during an extended training session. Yes, as in most action movies, Wanted is a slave to its own self indulgences, bathing in a sea of blood and violence, with at least two montages sprinkled for good measure. Short, effective montages, but montages just the same, which, by and large, are not really necessary in movies.

By and large, Wanted is punctuated by strong performances from both its leading and supporting casts. Both McAvoy and Jolie offer up excellent, convincing performances, and Morgan Freeman, playing Fraternity head Sloan, isn’t half bad, either. In fact, the only truly weak spot in the acting is that the script becomes kind of cheesy during some sequences, which is really too bad.

Wanted is certainly deserving of its hard R-rating. This is one of the more violent movies that I’ve ever seen (not more than Rambo, but that was just obscene), and its shoot-out sequences drive this point home. Buckets of blood aside, sexuality plays a role in the movie (in two scenes); those two sequences, plus a third, non-sexual sequence, feature rear nudity. Add into that a large amount of profanity, and Wanted is a movie that you wouldn’t bring the kids to, or yourself, if any of that proves a problem.

By and large, Wanted ends up being one of the better action movies that has come out in years, and one of the best--if not the best--popcorn movies this year. That it comes with a message (like Fight Club) that is a slam in the face to the majority of the populace isn’t the point. Even without that, Wanted is an excellent, fun ride for those that are old enough, or willing to sit through the gore and stylistic gunplay.

--Drew Regensburger (drew@revolve21.com)