(Spoilers)
I just saw Shelter with Jason statham and bodhi rae breathnach. It is an assassin/escape type action thriller with themes of questionable government oversight and friendship. Jason Statham plays a lighthouse keeper in the foggy isles of scotland. He gets recurring deliveries from a boat operator and his niece. One stormy day, the dinghy and boat that the niece and uncle use to deliver supplies with is swept over by the storm. Statham rescues the girl but the uncle perishes. Statham now the protector of the Breathnach, goes back into town for food. When at the store he is caught and camera and red flagged by MI6’s new anti terrorism system. Later that night at the lighthouse Statham’s dog alerts him of the coming assault team arriving by boat. Statham takes down the entire assault team revealing him as one of the country’s ex special forces members. The program’s leader frames him as a middle eastern terrorist purposefully because of bad business. It is up to Statham to save Breathnach from volleys of assassins meant for him and bring the hunt to an end. The cinematography is dark and an eerie blue tone is carried throughout the movie that comes with the atmosphere of the Scottish country. The theme of questionable government oversight is seen through its introduction. It comes off as illegally intrusive and reminds us of the 2013 NSA scandal that allowed the government to tap into phones, emails , and internet records. The theme of friendship builds throughout the movie as his relationship grows with Breathnach and as Statham relies on her and his friends to complete his mission. Arthur booth, one of Statham’s former coworkers, helps him find why he was framed and even helps them escape after an assassin comes to booths house to kill them. The relationship between Breathnach and Statham builds from when she is first upset with him for never greeting them when getting supplies and teaching her how to use a knife when she feels threatened by Statham after being rescued. As the two escape attack after attack, Breathnach becomes attached to Statham until the end where she is reluctantly taken to safety. The two build a relationship similar to a protective father and daughter. This is even seen at the end when Statham watches over Breathnach at a cafe as she reads. Statham disorients the camera being used by the government to watch her and even sends her a present reminding her of their chess game together. The movie is a solid action thriller with a little mystery involved. The intertwining plotlines, cinematography and well choreographed fight scenes make you root for the hero and envelop you into the dangerous Scottish scene.
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