Old Guy review – Christoph Waltz is grumpy hitman on verge of retirement in action comedy
Action legend Simon West (the director of Con Air, the first Lara Croft and The Mechanic) has put together a pretty moderate comedy-thriller with screenwriter Greg Johnson; the collective star power in its (undoubtedly) impressive cast isn't quite strong enough to make it come alive. It is set in Belfast and Northern Ireland — perhaps because of production funding requirements. There is a slightly weird moment in which Lucy Liu's character, speaking from a bar in London's Soho, says wistfully of Belfast: 'I've always wanted to go there … it's got a great music scene.' Perfectly true, of course, but there is something rather autopilot about the way she delivers the line.
Christoph Waltz plays an ageing and dissolute hitman called Danny Dolinski whose trigger finger is seizing up with arthritis, so his exasperated handler tells him he has to retire, but before that, he must mentor a new, up-and-coming assassin called Wihlborg, played by Cooper Hoffman, who is an uptight, no-drinking-and-smoking gen Z-er. Together, they must go out on a job to whack a certain someone on a Northern Irish golf course, but grumpy Danny figures he will do the killing while this young upstart can just watch how a master does the business. And along the way they run into Danny's friend Anata (Liu) for whom Danny may have feelings.
Old Guy is always acted with commitment and Hoffman shows he has the chops for a bigger role (his management may be minded to get him to bulk up in the gym for mainstream leading men parts). Three big names doing a professional job … but the target isn't found.
Old Guy is in UK and Irish cinemas from 7 March and on digital platforms from 10 March.
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Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Beyonce & Jay Z's relationship rollercoaster – from ‘Becky' cheat rumours to Diddy controversy & THAT lift drama
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From dodging the Diddy controversy to her sister Solange's infamous elevator incident, and those ever-persistent 'Becky' cheating rumours, their relationship has been anything but smooth sailing. Here, we delve into the drama and resilience that has defined their extraordinary 25 years together. 2000 - 2004: Dating The pair first met in 2000 at the MTV Spring Break Festival in Cancun, Mexico, when Beyoncé was 18 and Jay-Z was 30. Jay-Z later rapped about their meeting and sitting together on a flight back to New York in his 2018 track 713. Beyoncé confirmed this during an interview with Oprah, explaining that they were friends for a year and a half before dating. Jay-Z and Beyonce's $3billion net worth 'could take a big hit' after rape claims, lawyer says She said: "We were on the phone for a year and a half, and that foundation is so important for a relationship. 'Just to have someone who you just like is so important, and someone [who] is honest." Although Beyoncé has clarified she was not underage when they met, rumours about their age gap have persisted. Ignoring the speculation, the couple released Crazy in Love in 2003. While Beyoncé had already featured on Jay-Z's 03 Bonnie & Clyde, it was Crazy in Love that solidified their status as a power duo, even though they still kept their relationship under wraps at the time. It was then in 2004, the couple made their red carpet debut at the VMAs. 2008 - 2012: Marriage & child This was the year Beyoncé and Jay-Z finally tied the knot. At 26 and 38, the couple exchanged vows in an 'intimate' ceremony that remains shrouded in secrecy. 11 Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy Carter at the Grammy Awards in 2018 Credit: Getty It is believed the wedding took place in a Manhattan penthouse. 'There was no rush - no one expected me to run off and get married,' Beyoncé later shared with Seventeen about her wedding day. 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Daily Mirror
a day ago
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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
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