‘Proud Mary’

The smoldering star power of Taraji P Henson is completely wasted in ‘Proud Mary’ (2018). A neo-blaxpoitation picture that spends a lean 88 minutes doing Cookie Lyon dirty.

Rotely directed by Babak Najafi, ‘Proud Mary’ seems set to launch Henson into a well suited career in celluloid badass but squanders the opportunity in an action film low on action and heavy on melodrama.

Also starring Danny Glover, Billy Brown and a promising Jahi Di’Allo Winston, the film tells the story of a crime family assassin who feels guilty about orphaning a mark’s young son and has some deep-seated issues about motherhood.

Focused on the relationship between Mary and Winston’s orphaned Danny to the detriment of developing sequences that actually showcase Henson as an action hero, ‘Proud Mary’ finally delivers the kick*ss, bullet-ridden goods near the end of the film but by then it’s too little too late.

Bottom of the barrel when it comes to organised crime, hit woman and underworld films, ‘Proud Mary’ does its star a disservice even while she holds it all together.

See this if you’re a fan of Henson. Her action film potential is obvious and the film has heart. Albeit stitched together with clichéd fragments of backstory.

Want to watch ‘Proud Mary’ (2017) or a movie of your choice at Ster-Kinekor? Win a double movie ticket by simply answering a ques- tion: Who directed the film? Send your full name and your answer via SMS to 45045, using the keyword MOVIE. Competition closes Thursday at 17h00.

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