We continue to analyze and analyze the winners of the vote as part of summing up the results of action films for 2017. Today we will talk about such nominations as "Best Action Film Actor and Best Action Film Actress"".
Best Action Film Actor 2017
Scott Adkins (Undisputed 4, Wild Dog, Mercenary) (35%)
Battleship Scott Adkins goes smoothly. It turns out that he is now the “white hope” of action cinema. Is it good or bad - this is not a correct question. This is simply a fact that cannot be ignored. Scott has never given up on projects, but since 2015 he has shown an extreme degree of efficiency, or, to put it simply, he works like crazy, which has earned him an extensive baggage. Top projects began to appear in his filmography more and more often, although he participates in them mainly as an extra or an episodic character.
Let's face it: Yuri Boyka - this is Scott’s trump card, which he uses to lay down any doubters. This is his kind of head start and material on which he can still go out and hold out, which is what he actually does.
Scott's problem is the monotony of the material, the cloned fight choreography and the uniformity of the characters he embodies. If his hero has no beard and tattoos, then he can be safely transferred from one film to another, the difference will not be fundamental, you don’t even need to change clothes.
What should he do next? Complex issue. Nobody gave us the rights and powers to decide and think for him, but no one bothers us to think. Scott can continue to bomb the theme of one hero and release "Fight in Space", "Fight against the Predator" or “Undisputed Retired: Bloody Line at the District Social Security Office”. He can shout to the aliens while adjusting his dentures: “Bring mi yo fakin champion!” Aliens can be replaced with beavers (zombies, robots, underline as appropriate). But sooner or later people will get tired.
You can try to take in quantity and act in everything indiscriminately, drowning in the chaos of roles, but Adkins will only lose himself.
Sit and wait for a good role? But you can end up without pants, and you still have to pay the mortgage.
Write a script? Sit in the director's chair? Recruiting your own team or production center? Coming up with a new image for yourself? Write your thoughts and ideas about this in the comments to the article.
Jackie Chan (Rail Tigers, Armor of God: Treasure Quest, The Foreigner) (26%)
Really first-class projects lately Jackie Chan very little. To say that he got a second wind is a gross exaggeration. But in 2017, there was a film that turned out to be a solid work, not ideal, but serious, “four-star”, which we will focus on in our analysis.
"Foreigner" is an international project, with a budget, scope and decent casting. The project is not at all a comedy and not about the elderly Jackie jumping on the roofs. Let's take the liberty and say that Jackie Chan is the best thing in the film. He is the only one who shakes up this slow action, creating at least some kind of dynamics. A bunch of muddy intrigues and conversations performed by unsmiling characters, presented to us in dull colors, would be boring and would make the film a political thriller without zest, if not for Jackie. He alone carries the whole image, he alone creates the drama, and he is also responsible for the action. But at the moment, what is more important for us is not Chan’s kung fu, but the tired eyes of his hero, eyes full of pain and determination. Jackie shows us acting maturity and high professionalism. It's paradoxical, but "Foreigner" - This is far from Jackie Chan's best film, but one of his best roles.
Daniel Bernhard (Atomic Blonde, Finish 'Em All) (15%)
Early in his career Daniel Bernhard considered a clone JCVD. No one hid (and this is already obvious) that it was sculpted specifically to rivet and forge iron "Bloody Sport" while it's hot.
Despite a fairly successful career as a model and a degree in architectural design, Bernhard decided to devote himself to cinema and plunged headlong into B-grade action films. Mastery of martial arts, attractive heroic appearance, flexibility, and acting abilities did not leave him without work. However, either omnivorousness and dependability, or lack of experience and a lucky chance, but Bernhardt stayed for a long time in niche cinema, occasionally surfacing, then in the series "Mortal Kombat", then in "The Matrix Reloaded". And at some point, the roles of monotonous heroes, picture villains and occasional extras begin to be replaced by characters with more distinct screen time. Of course, the roles of extras have not disappeared, but a transformation has also occurred with the level of the projects themselves. There are fewer and fewer ordinary paintings, and more and more top ones: "Parker", "The Hungger Games", "John Wick", "Logan» "Explosive Blonde". The award was supposed to find its hero when a person is not lazy, learns his craft and works, maintaining his acting and physical shape at the proper level. And, apparently, he does not abuse alcohol, like some.
At some point, while watching a film released in 2017 "Finish them all" With JKVD in the lead role and Bernhard as the villain, we found ourselves wondering: for which of them is this film growth? In the late 90s this would have been progress for Daniel, but in 2017 isn’t this a step back? This question might hang around unanswered, but "Explosive Blonde" at least partially, but it gives the answer: Bernhardt no longer lingers in cinematic girls, but realizes himself more widely, sparkles brighter, plays more and better, fights longer and more often. It's finished. Justice has prevailed. Better late than never.
Best Action Film Actress 2017
Charlize Theron (Atomic Blonde) (25%)
Charlize Theron back in 2015, she showed not only how to play strong women, but also how to confidently push the main characters into the background. Last year turned out to be her benefit performance. "Explosive Blonde" came out as a stylish movie, eclectic and beautiful in every way. Theron, for all her fragility and aristocracy, coped with the task: she convincingly threw men around like rubber products, fired a scattering of bullets not into her eyebrow, but into her forehead, and sexy straightened her perhydrol bangs, despite the traces of numerous beatings on her face.
Films like “Blonde” are interesting because they sit on two chairs and do not fall, being “class A” action films, they rethink and absorb the best achievements of classic “bangs”. You can safely put in the same cohort "John Wick" and, perhaps, the first "Carrier". Serious acting experience allowed Charlize Theron to fit into this aesthetic perfectly. As a result, she not only gives a great performance without overacting anything, but also attracts attention, looking perfect in neon signs, plus she feels good in the action side of the film.
The most important fight of the picture - "Charlize Theron vs. Daniel Bernhardt" We'll go into more detail a little later. But in general, it’s worth saying that not many actors can boast of such an intense, sweeping fight, filmed in long takes without cuts. Moreover, not every professional on-screen fighter will withstand all this, and not everyone will be able to show themselves well in such a battle. Yes, in some places the viewer can see the prop equipment and slight sagging in the dynamics, allowing the actors to catch their breath and continue the fight, yes, sometimes the actors just rush around and destroy everything around, but this fight shows us what many high-budget action films are sorely lacking, namely a professional approach to hand-to-hand combat, a high degree of dedication and courage. Courage is a very important quality in such films, the desire to shoot in a non-pop manner, to experiment, to try large forms even in such a chamber film.
Amy Johnston (Lady Bloodbattle, Sorority Fight Club, Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope) (25%)
Attention! Amy Johnston, this is the “white hope” of action cinema, but among women. Since Cynthia Rothrock, Karen Shepard or Sophia Crawford ended their film careers, none of the female fighters in Europe or America took their place. Gina Carano, you ask? Well, so far it hasn’t worked out for her. Who knows, maybe Amy is just the new rising star of fighting games with a female face. Her peculiarity is that she looks like a “simple girl from the house across the street”, and not like a fitness model or a thunder woman. Johnston looks natural on screen, looks organic, her positive heroines are without excessive pathos or superpowers, for which you want to empathize with them. It is empathy for the character that is perhaps the main distinguishing feature of Amy Johnston’s acting work. This also applies to dramatic moments and action scenes. It cannot be said that in fights she shows miracles of technique and acrobatics, but it is always a strong, stable manner without any special failures.
Her most striking film to date can be considered "Lady Bloodbattle", a kind of female version "Bloody Sport", in which the main character, played by Johnston, does not look like an invincible Amazon, does not set world records like Frank Dukes, but, on the contrary, seems to have accidentally fallen into this whole fighting party. A fragile heroine who is charged and motivated. She overcomes obstacles, uncertainty, pain, fear and, in the end, wins. There is a sense of sincerity in her, which is why it is interesting to watch her.
"Accident" - This is Johnston as the antagonist. It turned out that she is also good at bitchy ladies. The film's fight choreography isn't over-the-top, but Amy does it all herself, diligently, and without stunt doubles.
So far, these works are just the beginning of the journey, and in order to reach a new, higher level, Amy will have to work hard, improve both her acting and progress as an on-screen fighter.
Kim Ok-pin (Villain) (24%)
The voting for the best action film actress turned out to be very tight. Kim Ok-pin is only one point behind her competitors and, to be honest, she can easily be put in first place.
It’s difficult to say how her career will develop further, whether she will move in the direction of fighting games, but we are definitely looking forward to the continuation of the banquet.
"Villain" for Kim Ok-pin – this is not a test of the pen, not a gradual start, since her filmography currently includes a dozen films, but the most spectacular entry to the world audience. Here she shows her dramatic capabilities, shedding tears at herself and those around her at the first opportunity, but as soon as the tears dry up, shooting begins, beating up enemies and enchanting stunts filmed from unimaginable angles.
It would be interesting if the next work was done in a similar dashing style, but with the involvement of some star actors from China, Thailand, Indonesia, the USA or Europe. But only on the South Korean site, without going to Hollywood, otherwise nothing good will come of it.
But even if this does not happen, but it turns out, for example, just "Villain 2" or any other new action movie with Kim Ok-pin, then we will be incredibly happy about this development of events.
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Tags: Atomic Blonde, Boyka: Undisputed, Lady Bloodfight, The Foreigner, The Villainess, Jackie Chan, Daniel Bernhard, results of action cinema 2017, Kim Ok-pin, Scott Adkins, Charlize Theron, Amy Johnston
Tags: Atomic Blonde, Boyka: Undisputed, Lady Bloodfight, The Foreigner, The Villainess, Jackie Chan, Daniel Bernhard, results of action cinema 2017, Kim Ok-pin, Scott Adkins, Charlize Theron, Amy Johnston
I’m especially happy for Lisa, Kim and Daniel, I voted for them. I want to see more of the charismatic Denis in cinemas, where fortunately I saw the blonde. And overall the movie is wow. Well done everyone :)
Well done Daniel. Atomic Blonde is his best role in a major film. Although it would seem that after Bloodsport in the 90s, the age is not the same, But it is not - Bernhard proves by his example that it is never too late, and the main thing is desire. “Finish them all” looks very interesting in this regard now, where Van Damme seems like some kind of pitiful and old wreck against his background, and the fight between them... damn Daniel needs to fight Scott, not him. But once in the 90s, Van Damme was a star, and Daniel was the pale of his day. And where is Van Damme now, and where is Daniel? It’s clear that if it weren’t for meeting Chad Stahelski, we might not have seen him in either John Wick or Atomic Blonde, but nevertheless, worthy of respect, deservedly 3rd place.
Well actually Accident just an example of this option. And as for me, this is the most optimal option for developing his career. It’s better when he is not only an actor, but also a screenwriter, producer, and practically a director. Scott has ambition and this film shows it. I am waiting Triple threat, I hope his other projects will not disappoint either. I'm glad Scott has screenwriter friend Stu Soll to help him with his scripts. I understand the reviews for Accident man there won’t be (there’s not enough time for summaries here), but I’ll add about what I said Ravenside regarding Scott's "uniformity of characters", his Mike Fallon - yes, is not very different from the same hero in "Special Forces", "Ninja" or "Hooligans 3", but there are moments, scenes where he shows himself from the comical side, for example, how he teases Tim Man in the scene with the motorcycle (Is that so? Does it hurt?), or verbal altercations with Ashley Greene’s characters or with Fred, who wants to kill him with a band-aid. And this is very pleasing, because in previous films he always played characters of few words, but here it’s the opposite. This is a growth vector for him - to try to play his heroes, focusing not only on fighting qualities, but also on dialogues, given that he wants the franchise of this project, I think he knows this himself. Plus, I recently read an interview with Jesse Johnson and he talked a lot about him and the future project PAy UP - Scott definitely has his own plans for development.