THE ENFORCER
★★
OUT 6 JANUARY / CERT 18 / 90 MINS
DIRECTOR Richard Hughes
CAST Antonio Banderas, Kate Bosworth, Mojean Aria, 2 Chainz
Having elevated Uncharted and dazzled in Official Competition already this year, Antonio Banderas — following Willis, Washington and Neeson’s lead — flexes his geri-action muscles in The Enforcer. A grotty neon-noir from first-time filmmaker Richard Hughes and OG Point Break scribe W. Peter Iliff, this one sees Banderas playing Cuda, a long-in-the-tooth mobster given a shot at redemption when he tries to save a teen runaway abducted on his own boss’ orders. You know the story, and that’s the problem. Despite Banderas’ best efforts to give Cuda some bite, there’s no escaping Iliff’s cliché-riddled screenplay, an uninspiring ensemble and constant reminders you’ve seen this all done — and done better — before.