By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
The first action movie to kick off 2022 is the spy drama
"The 355" from director Simon Kinberg ("Deadpool 3" and TV's "The Twilight Zone").
There is a bit of history behind the movie's title. It's actually a code name ("The 355") that was based on a female spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution. However, the movie isn’t nearly as serious as all that, but screenwriters Theresa Rebeck (TV’s "Of Kings and Prophets") and Kinberg do their best to breathe new life into its familiar storyline and give it some snap, crackle, and pop.
It also helps to have big named talent attached to it like Sacramento’s very own Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and TV's "George and Tammy"), Lupita Nyong’ o (TV’s "Americanah") and Penelope Cruz ("Parallel Mothers").
In "The 355" these women have a special set of skills. Khadijah (Nyong’o) is a top-notch MI6 cyber-intelligence expert, Mason "Mace" Brown (Chastain) is a highly regarded CIA Agent and Graciela (Penelope Cruz, works as a Colombian DNI agent and psychologist.
They must join forces with German agent Marie Schmidt (Diane Kruger, TV's “Swimming with the Sharks”) to take down a group of terrorists who have a weapon of mass destruction and are power-hungry and greedy enough to use it for their personal gain.
The stakes are high. Their search to find out just who is behind this power grab and why has them jetting off to London, Colombia, Paris, Shanghai, and Morocco. During their dangerous mission allegiances become tested. Even Mace’s colleague and love interest, Nick Fowler (Sebastian Stan, TV’s “What If…?”) as well as DNI Agent Luis Rojas (Edgar Ramirez, “Jungle Cruise”) may be part of the convoluted set up.
In addition, there is woman named Lin Mi Sheng (Bingbing Fan, “The King’s Daughter”) who is lurking in the shadows and keeping a watchful eye on the women, but why?
The fight scenes in "The 355" are eye-popping and perfectly choreographed. Each of the women have their moments in the spot. Chastain, in particular has never looked tougher and she convincingly sells her character. Really, they all do.
"The 355" has all the right stuff going for it. It’s fun and exciting and features a dynamic group of smart, sexy, and tough women who could surely hold their own in a super spy sequel or series.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"THE 355"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
