The CIA and Paris.. What's up with that? Jason Bourne had an apartment there, Bryan Mills lost his daughter there, Ethan Renner has his "last" mission and Charlie Wax made one big mess. Okay, sure, those last three were from the mind of Luc Besson, probably just representing his hometown. Taking that habit in mind it's a wonder why this movie has nothing to do with Besson. This film is staying true to it's formula for action-thrillers situated in Paris, which are equally as easy to view, and forget. Complete with an overqualified actor to fill the main role.

The latter being Idris Elba, who has been working hard on paving his own way, but has not quite yet made it to the Hollywood A-listers. Critics love him, the audience loves him, but he's still waiting on the absolute star status he deserves, as a movie star. Bastille Day shows that is in reach, however. Not because it is such a thunderous film (on the contrary), but because it's carried solely by Elba's starpower. The marketing for this movie alone shows that. Everywhere is Idris. Everywhere is Elba. But wait, we also have co-star Richard Madden, most famous for his role as one of the Stark's in one of the biggest TV Shows ever; Game of Thrones, whose role is practically the same size (or maybe even bigger) than Elba, but he's shunned into the back in most of it.

[spoiler] Madden plays an American who in Paris earning money through his excellent skill in pickpocketing, he's so good that when the CIA eventually has him in holding, he can hardly convince them that his crimes are much more innocent; he's completely unknown to the authorities (in France). The suspicion is solely based on him stealing the wrong bag; one that apparently contains only worthless items, but then explodes and causes casualities. Althought the CIA Agent interpreted by Elba does not take it so closeley with the rules (that's how we get to hear in an explanatory dialogue), he understand the ins and outs of the matter quickly enough. After which he goes to work with Madden to track those truelly responsible. [/spoiler]

Bastille day came out on the heels of a terrorist attack in Paris, still healing. Often films that have been overtaken by current events in this way are delayed, to spare vulnerable souls. This time that didn't happen, and the reason seems pretty clear; the film simply has too little to do with the reality of being able to hit people where it hurts. Terrorism here is simply a simple element to start the plot. For the form there is some fiddling with the tension between police forces and rebellious citizens, and how far-right politicians spin yarn in such unrest.

In the end Bastille Day unfortunaly has very little ti say about all these important subjects. What remains is a reasonably entertaining action flick which is lifted up a but by the charm of Idris Elba, but that unfortunaly doesn't help the fact that this movie is filled with a too well-known plot and wo-dimensional characters.

It's little innovative, only interesting because of Elba.
5,8/10

Well this just goes to show that you can put two hot blokes in the same film, set it in Paris, add some car chases and pyrotechnics - and still end up with a dud. Richard Madden (and his terrible attempt at a Nevada accent) is "Mason" an accomplished pickpocket who manages to get himself embroiled in a bombing. Spotted by CCTV, he is soon the quarry of the CIA's "Briar" (Idris Elba) before the latter realises that he is not their protagonist and that it is best the pair unite to thwart the real terrorists who are using a campaign of civil unrest to mask their real criminal intentions. James Watkins actually manages to keep the pace of this moving along quite well, but the story is far too thin and there is precisely no chemistry on screen between the gents, or between anyone and "Zoe" (Charlotte le Bon) who is also mixed up in all this mayhem. Eye candy can really help a film, and to a certain extent it does here but otherwise this is a standard made for television thriller that is light on just about everything. The condescending tones of the CIA in their dealings with their French counterparts was rather irritating too - no wonder Americans are not always overly welcome in Europe! If this was either man pitching to be the next Daniel Craig, then I'd not give up the day job.

**One wrong move made a small time thief a target.**

The first thing is this film came at the worst time in the history of France. If it was set in elsewhere in the world would have had less issue, but the Paris terror attack and this theme had lots of similarity. I mean it was nothing to do with the incident, but the contents are very impactful. Which also might be the reason for the film not doing well. I did not enjoy much this film, for me it was the story that turned me off. It was sympathetic to terrorists in the first half, so I completely hated that part, and then the last 30 or so minutes it got better. I mean not awesome or like that, but just good.

Directed by 'Eden Lake' famed director. Another very familiar story, but altered like it was for the first time in a film. So most of the parts are predictable, but one twist during the beginning of the third act made it look good. Amazing pace, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger going forward. But as we know, those developments were so clichéd. All the actors were okay, and it has some decent stunts as well. I think it is a good timepass film and nothing else..

_6/10_

This film is like the ghost of action-conspiracy thrillers past and of action-conspiracy thrillers to come. It is a mere shadow of the better films in the genre despite that fact all the constituent parts are there. Explosions, car chases, hoo-ha gruntastic fight scenes, tough guys not playing by the book and Basil Exposition when required.

Idris Elba put his all into his Luther-lite role which he can do in his sleep but he is not helped by a very bland Richard Madden and Charlotte Le Bon who bring nothing to their characters than ‘seen it all beforeism’ and they aren’t helped by poorly sketched roles bordering on preposterous. Madden is not helped by starting the film with the most ridiculous pick-pocket scene ever filmed and he looks quite useless at the actual pickpocketing too. La Bon is planting a bomb in an office but only to scare people – she is so ideology driven she is prepared to use a time-bomb in Paris but doesn’t want to hurt anyone. The noise you can hear is my imagination being stretched.

The entire film though is let down by the utterly ridiculous story line as the baddy José Garcia – a Gallic Robert Downey Junior – sets up the most complex, uncontrollable scheme to rob France’s currency reserve of €100Bn or some other Dr Evil total and run away to the Bahamas. Notwithstanding that with the amount of people involved would mean they would probably end up with a couple of million each but how much does his rather prestigious role pay to have been driven to this? It does not make any sense and makes less sense as it goes along. Now considering people and blown up and brutally murdered throughout I am assuming this is not a superhero movie but a thriller for adults – who think. I felt a little insulted as I watched the silliness unfold.

Truth be told if you like Idris Elba there’s enough on display to keep you happy, if you look quick punching action and shooting, there’s enough here but also if you are an aficionado of these films there is nothing here you haven’t seen before and done better with better logic.