London Has Fallen (Film Review)

 

2016 Focus Features
Directed by: Babak Najafi; Written by: Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, Christian Gudegast, and Chad St. John
Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Alon Moni Aboutboul, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, Jackie Earle Haley, Melissa Leo, Radha Mitchell, Sean O'Bryan, and Waleed Zuaiter
MPAA Rating: R; Running Time: 99 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 6/10

When the British Prime Minister dies suddenly, the U.S. President decides he must attend the funeral, despite the fact that his security team will have little time to plan. Lead agent, Mike Banning, wife near to labor with their first child, once saved the President from terrorists who invaded the White House. Since Mike can't quite dissuade the Commander in Chief from making the trip, he forces the President to grant him one concession: the U.S. will arrive to the funeral early and unannounced, before everyone else gets there...and good thing! As all the other foreign leaders are arriving, a massive terrorist force, dressed as British security, attacks with bombs, bullets, cars, motorcycles, anti-aircraft rockets, knives, and an absolutely perfectly executed plan. All of the world leaders are killed, half of London and essentially all of its famous landmarks are destroyed, but Banning and the President make it through the attack alive. Now, they've got to try to make it out of the city, as the police force has been overrun, the power is out, armed terrorists are roaming everywhere, and LONDON HAS FALLEN.

The "Has Fallen" series is a throwback to the muscular, jingoistic action films of the 80's and 90's that people who lived through those eras, this reviewer included, adore, pine for, and say "why don't they make movies like THAT anymore?" only they are and "they" is Gerard Butler. London Is Fallen, the second film in that series, certainly has its flaws, though. For one, the villains' plan is logically impossible. So many things would have had to go right, the film almost needs a disclaimer that the terrorists tried their plan in an infinite amount of universes, and of those universes, the one in this film is the only one in which it worked. Before that, the film is a little too dry and generic, with Butler's character fretting over having to leave his wife. Director, Babak Najafi, who only had several weeks to prep the film after the previous helmer had to opt out, has to rely on a lot of voiceover and news footage to get viewers up to speed on the events leading to the plot of the film. The dialogue and select moments can also be a little goofy. I mean, Butler tells a terrorist to "pack up his stuff and head back to Fuckheadistan," and this is definitely one of those movies where explosions selectively only kill whoever the script wants them to. The CGI here is also not great in moments, particularly in the long shots of London landmarks exploding. With those flaws out of the way, London is a breathless, exciting action film with some absolutely stunning set pieces.
Once the attack on London commences, the action never lets up for a second, and outside of those dodgy effects shots, the attack on the city is an incredible sequence, featuring an absolute shredded metal and bullet casings ton of practical effects work. There's a chase scene between the President's car (with Butler partially at the wheel) and a fleet of motorcycles that features stunning stuntwork, with terrorists getting rammed into overpass supports, car doors, and anything Butler can slam or shoot them into. There's also an extremely nifty, one-take climactic siege on the terrorists' headquarters, where the camera follows Butler kicking down doors, leaping over barriers, dodging to cover points, and unloading every gun he can get his hands on into terrorists positions. Frankly, it's awesome.
Speaking of awesome, Butler was born 20 years too late, but I'll most certainly take him now, scowling as he's shoving knives through terrorists' skulls, smirking as he performs particularly skillful kills, and bro'ing it up with Aaron Eckhart, the President who also seems to double as Banning's best friend. Eckhart even gets some sweet action moments himself. So while it may be silly and goofy in spots, London Has Fallen is still a very satisfying action picture, the kind I wish more actors were keen to star in, and studios keen to make, but as I said, I'll keep watching them if Butler keeps making them. Here's hoping Najafi does too. The man can shoot an action scene!!! And speaking of Najafi:

I know that a lot of reviewers reacted negatively to that "Fuckheadistan" line, but I do think the caustic political climate of 2016 certainly had an effect on the reviews for this film, which mostly skewed negative. In fact, I originally wrote a much longer review of this film that incorporated an essay on that political climate and its effect on my own city of Baton Rouge. That version of the review is saved in drafts, and only written for me. However, in regard to that line, I think it's important to note that Persian director, Babak Najafi, was born and raised in Iran until the age of 11, when his family fled due to the Iran-Iraq war.

I like to imagine Najafi standing next to Butler, directing him, giggling as he says "No, Gerry, put the stress on 'head.' 'FuckHEADistan.' 'Not FUCKheadistan.' Yes, like that! Perfect, Gerry! Cut!" 

I tried to tell this story to my wife, who is also Persian, but she just rolled her eyes and said "Sounds about right." Hollywood, let Babak make another movie!