HEART OF STONE (2023)

HEART OF STONE (2023)

Tagline: Defy the Odds

(Action, Espionage, Lots of Extra Motorcycles) [PG-13]

You want to know how great men get power Keya? It’s not because earn it, or because they deserve it, it is because when the moment comes…they take it.

In this one, Rachel Stone is working undercover with MI6. Their mission is to stop a man named Mulvaney as part of an off-the-books effort to maintain world peace. When the group is ambushed Stone’s conscience gets the best of her and she reveals her real identity. Meanwhile, she must also stop an ultra-sophisticated hacking weapon called the “heart” from falling into the wrong hands. 

First off this is a very well-produced action flick that definitely should have gotten a theatrical release. I actually kind of can’t believe it didn’t get one. It’s literally from the same studio that did MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Anyway, this movie is just over 2 hours long but it moves at lightning speed with a really good balance of story and action with some really cool stunt work. 

I am not going to say this isn’t kind of like a lot of other spy-type movies out there, but the cast really makes this and I loved the background stories and the character growth for one of the main characters in general. This movie has heavy consequences but also throws in bits of humor from time to time via Rachel’s witty and refreshing dialog. There is even a very subtle nod to Kim Possible in this thing. This film is not overloaded with crass humor or bogged down by buckets of profanity but rather gives us a solid assessable pallet that pretty much anyone who likes brilliant action flicks with well-thought-out plots can embrace. 

Acting wise Gal Gadot shines in this as Rachel Stone because she is actually given a chance to emote. She does a lot of face-kicking in this, but her character in this is more likable than her role in RED NOTICE. Alia Bhatt plays the mysterious Keya and crushes the role. This was her first Hollywood production, but a lot of people are going to recognize her from RRR. Jing Lusi is solid in this both with her acting and her action sequences. This was a lot better outing for her than role in SAS: RISE OF THE BLACK SWAN. It’s also possible she wasn’t terrible in that and she was just victimized by how bad that movie sucked. I liked Sophie Okonedo (DEATH ON THE NILE) in this as the seemingly mendacious nomad. It is possible that Matthias Schweighöfer (OPPENHEIMER) is underutilized in this, but it feels like if they ever do another installment he will get more screen time. Jamie Dornan plays “Jack of Hearts”. I really think they could have gotten someone better here. Oh yeah, I should mention that there are a lot of references to playing cards in this movie. 

The score has its moments, but it’s not iconic. I did like the soundtrack. Any time Fleetwood Mac gets played I am not going to cry about it. A more serious approach for the title sequence would have better suited the opening. I am not saying they should have gone full 007 with the song, but even going a “Charles Angels” feel might have been better. 

Overall this is a LOT better than some of the reviews I have seen. I am not saying some of these critics don’t know fun when it’s sitting right in front of them but... 

HEART OF STONE gets a solid 6 out of 7. 

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