Kate (Movie Review)
When the Duchess of Cambridge recently wore a pink midi-length sundress to watch her sons play polo, fans were quick to notice her outfit. The dress was spotted on the royal family’s Instagram account and is similar to one she wore for an outdoor event in July.
Kate is a well-trained assassin who wants to retire after a job goes terribly wrong in director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s latest action flick. When her target dies in front of a child witness, Kate is forever changed and resentful of her mentor (Woody Harrelson). She returns to Japan for one last job but this doesn’t go as planned.
She’s poisoned and has 24 hours to live; she plans revenge against the man who killed her. But as the film progresses, her deteriorating body becomes a constant distraction from her mission and her vengeance gets complicated by an unexpected ally: Ani, the daughter of the man Kate kills in the opening scene.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is fantastic as Kate, and it’s hard not to root for her as she tries to make the best of an unlucky situation. Her ruthless, calculating performance has a great sense of urgency and grit that’s believable.
However, the film doesn’t just rely on her talent; it also has a lot to do with its visual style. The camerawork is top notch and the neon pink lighting in the car sequence is absolutely incredible. The film’s cinematographer, Lyle Vincent, also took inspiration from Tokyo’s cyberpunk subculture and Japanese anime to help give Kate a futuristic look.
The film’s editing is also pretty good, and it’s nice to see some of the action incorporated into the movie’s soundtrack. The loud Japanese pop rock blasting out of the speakers makes this action sequence very eye-catching, while Kate’s accelerated pace as she attempts to weave around cars in a deteriorating condition and the low-to-the-ground camera placement gives the audience the impression that they are actually along for the ride.
Despite its glaring flaws, Kate is still a decent action movie that will make you want to keep watching. As a self-proclaimed action junkie, I’m always on the lookout for new movies like this and I’m excited to see how Kate stands up to her counterparts in the genre.
There are a lot of things to love about this movie: Kate’s confidence as an assassin, Woody Harrelson’s excellent acting as her mentor, Miku Patricia Martineau as Ani, and the gorgeous neon pink color palette. There are even a few moments of poignancy that come into play when Kate’s body starts to fail her.
But the story is also predictable and there are a lot of boring fight scenes in this film. This is especially true when it comes to the big fight in Renji’s penthouse. There are several different moves that don’t connect and it’s really noticeable in this one, especially since it’s the biggest fight of the entire movie.
I didn’t expect a lone female assassin to have much of a personality in this movie, but that’s exactly what Mary Elizabeth Winstead does. As a self-described “realistic” assassin, she has a distinct style that was carefully drilled into her by snipers in the Thai military.