A pale imitation of the 2018 thriller
However, those who have seen the original will likely find much to love in this remake. The story is well-told and the acting is top-notch, making it a must-watch for any fan of Danish crime thrillers.
The Guilty is a film about a demoted police officer who is struggling to think clearly with a massive court case coming up. The focus of the film is not on Joe Baylor, but on the exposition that is drip-fed across the run-time.
The main crux of the drama comes from Joe receiving an emergency call from a woman called Emily. She’s frightened, kidnapped by her partner Henry with their two children, Abby and Oliver, still at home. What follows from here is an intense rollercoaster ride of emotion that’ll keep you gripped until the very end.
The story in this new version is basically the same as the original. There are no surprises here, so if you’ve seen the 2018 version there’s nothing new here. The artistic additions to the screenplay actually feel more annoying than anything else. ..
The film’s opening sequence features a blurry overlay of flashing sirens, cars on the freeway and more. It’s clear that Director Antoine Fuqua is itching to get out the one-set shindig the film is constrained by, but this feels like an odd aesthetic choice.
Joe Baylor is a man who has been through a lot in his life. He’s been through the tough times, the good times, and the bad times. He’s had to fight for everything he’s ever had. He’s never given up on anything, and that makes him an incredibly compelling character. Jake Gyllenhaal does an amazing job in this role and makes us feel for Joe Baylor all the way through his story.
The original location of Los Angeles was a disaster. The city was ravaged by fire, and the response time to the emergency was slow and frustrating. The new location is better, but it’s not really all that different from the original. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance is good, but there’s not a lot else here that makes it worth your time.
If you haven’t watched that though, do yourself a favour and stick it on instead. This film is simply another example of how far ahead foreign cinema is compared to Hollywood – especially in terms of quality and originality. ..
The Guilty is a dark and brooding film that follows the lives of its two main characters, The Guilty and The Victim. Both men are struggling with their pasts and the ways in which they have contributed to the other’s. Despite their differences, they are both desperately trying to find a way to make things right.
In 2021, the world is on the brink of a major change. A new age of technology has made it possible for people to be held accountable for their actions, and the guilty are being brought to justice. But as the world begins to understand what has happened, there is a growing fear that the guilty will never be punished. What will happen when society can no longer trust its own eyes?
