The Bricklayer

What happened to movie producers? Does anyone care about the movies they create anymore? There was a time when casting a role in a movie came down to the best actors you could get. With that said, I dont think Nina Dobrev was a good casting choice.

This movie is yet another cookie cutter secret assassin flick. There is not a whole lot of chemistry between the 2 main characters and I think Nina Dobrev is partly to blame. It doesnt seem like she's putting much effort into her role in this movie and it shows! Aaron is a good actor but when you pair a good one with one that's not putting in the effort, it brings the whole movie down. The Bricklayer is another movie that I will say is not the worst i've seen, but it is not very good either.

I don't understand who green-lights these movies. Did no one read the script before they started shooting? This is just so freaking mediocre.

Writing: the story is derivative as hell and dumb AF, there is no character development at all, and the dialogue is uncomfortably cringeworthy.

Acting: Aaron Eckhart is a good actor, but in this movie, no one delivers a remotely decent performance. Especially Nina Dobrev, who at least in this film, brings no range whatsoever, no chemistry with the lead actor and a truly amateur performance. The support cast is no better.

Directing: a disjointed and incoherent mess with nothing but a few passable action sequences to pacify the tedium.

I strongly encourage the writers to hang up the gloves. When ChatGPT can do a better job than you do, it's time to look into a different line of work.

I went to see it because of the name of the great actor Aaron Eckhart on the bill. Contrary to many others, I do still really appreciate many of his latest movies, but this is definitely not one of them...

The bad: Aaron Eckhart does a good job at acting, it's not his fault this movie flopped, but his opposing leading actress has got ZERO charisma or chemistry. Who decided to cast her? She acts like she walked straight of the set of a cheap television soap series. A total nobody.

This whole movie has got a cheap look and feel. But let's forget about all that for a moment, the only crucial question left is: has it got riveting action or suspenseful plot turns. NO!

Aaron Eckhart fans be warned, he does still act well, but this movie is quite a tedious dread to watch.

Action movie with average cast, good photography, great stunts, unusual location (Thessaloniki, Greece), good music and some nice dialogue (here and there).

Script, alas, had some really annoying aspects... for example: who would like to watch a man in his 50s, alone, defeating with his bare hands 30 thugs, most of them armed, one after the other, in a same scene?

Movie reality is cinematic, ok... but there are rules nonetheless: I'd say that 2 thugs should be the edge of 'realism', up to 5 you must be funny, plausible and it remains however debatable, 6 is reserved for James Bond and higher figures definitely require superheroes.

Another (violated) rule of mine says that a thug easily defeated in a previous scene cannot have such a come back and beat you to a pulp in a following sequence... anyway... that said, it was not boring: I reached the end titles in good spirits and it made me kill some time.

And I always liked Aaron Eckhart.

Enjoy.

"The Bricklayer" crumbles under the weight of its own predictability. Clichéd plot-lines and illogical turns make this B-movie feel like a dusty relic from a bygone era. While promising a gritty thriller, the film delivers more eye-rolls than excitement.

The narrative cracks are evident from the get-go. Characters behave with questionable motives, and the action sequences lack punch. The cheap production values do little to elevate the experience, leaving viewers yearning for a trowel to smooth over the rough edges.

Despite its flaws, "The Bricklayer" isn't completely without merit. A few scattered witty lines and a fleeting moment of genuine suspense offer glimpses of what could have been. But ultimately, these are just bricks scattered amidst a crumbling wall.

If you're seeking a cinematic masterpiece, you'll find this film more like a pile of rubble. However, for fans of campy B-movies who enjoy a generous helping of cheese with their action, "The Bricklayer" might provide a mildly diverting afternoon distraction. Just don't expect it to win any awards for architectural brilliance.

Overall: A predictable and uninspired thriller that fails to build any real excitement. Skip this one unless you're craving a cinematic power nap. Rating: 4- out of 10 IMDb stars.