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IMDbPro

Safe House

  • 20122012
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
226K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,562
138
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012)
When a CIA-operated safe house is targeted by a group of bad guys, the facility's house-sitter is tasked with the dangerous job of moving the criminal who is being hidden there to another secure location.
Play trailer2:35
5 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionThriller
A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.A young CIA agent is tasked with looking after a fugitive in a safe house. But when the safe house is attacked, he finds himself on the run with his charge.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
226K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,562
138
    • Daniel Espinosa
    • David Guggenheim
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Ryan Reynolds
    • Robert Patrick
    • Daniel Espinosa
    • David Guggenheim
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Ryan Reynolds
    • Robert Patrick
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 370User reviews
    • 206Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos5

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:35
    Watch No. 1
    "Weston Tells His Girlfriend About His Real Job"
    Clip 0:50
    Watch "Weston Tells His Girlfriend About His Real Job"
    "Weston Escapes From The Police Station"
    Clip 0:57
    Watch "Weston Escapes From The Police Station"
    "Weston Guards Frost While the Safe House Is Attacked"
    Clip 0:59
    Watch "Weston Guards Frost While the Safe House Is Attacked"
    "Frost Attacks Weston While Driving Through Cape Town"
    Clip 0:59
    Watch "Frost Attacks Weston While Driving Through Cape Town"

    Photos161

    Ryan Reynolds and Nora Arnezeder in Safe House (2012)
    Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012)
    Sam Shepard in Safe House (2012)
    Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012)
    Rubén Blades in Safe House (2012)
    Ryan Reynolds and Daniel Espinosa in Safe House (2012)
    Vera Farmiga in Safe House (2012)
    Ryan Reynolds in Safe House (2012)
    Nora Arnezeder in Safe House (2012)
    Denzel Washington and Rubén Blades in Safe House (2012)
    Denzel Washington and Daniel Espinosa in Safe House (2012)
    Brendan Gleeson in Safe House (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Denzel Washington
    Denzel Washington
    • Tobin Frost
    Ryan Reynolds
    Ryan Reynolds
    • Matt Weston
    Robert Patrick
    Robert Patrick
    • Daniel Kiefer
    Vera Farmiga
    Vera Farmiga
    • Catherine Linklater
    Brendan Gleeson
    Brendan Gleeson
    • David Barlow
    Sam Shepard
    Sam Shepard
    • Harlan Whitford
    Rubén Blades
    Rubén Blades
    • Carlos Villar
    Nora Arnezeder
    Nora Arnezeder
    • Ana Moreau
    Liam Cunningham
    Liam Cunningham
    • Alec Wade
    Joel Kinnaman
    Joel Kinnaman
    • Keller
    Fares Fares
    Fares Fares
    • Vargas
    Jenna Dover
    • CIA Analyst
    Stephen Rider
    Stephen Rider
    • CIA Analyst
    Daniel Fox
    Daniel Fox
    • CIA Analyst
    Tracie Thoms
    Tracie Thoms
    • CIA Analyst
    Sara Arrington
    Sara Arrington
    • CIA Analyst
    Kenneth Fok
    • CIA Analyst
    Bryan van Niekerk
    • Linklater's Assistant
      • Daniel Espinosa
      • David Guggenheim
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Denzel Washington was actually waterboarded during the filming of some of the torture scene, though only for a few seconds per take.
    • Goofs
      When Weston enters the safe house for the first time he opens the fridge and there is a stock supply of O positive blood. If this is for transfusion in an emergency then O negative is the universal donor.
    • Quotes

      Matt Weston: Are you going to kill me?

      Tobin Frost: [Frost shoots the wall next to Weston's head] I only kill professionals.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.85 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Rebel Blues
      Written by Lëk Sèn, Yves Abadi (as Y. Abadi), Adrien Biehler (as A. Biehler), Miguel Saboga (as M. Saboga)

      Performed by Lëk Sèn

      Courtesy of Louxor Station & Putumayo World Music

    User reviews370

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Great story, GREAT acting, bad camera
    "Safe House" is an action packed thriller about a lone rookie CIA agent attempting to 'escort' his high profile prisoner back to CIA headquarters. If this brings to mind the classic films "The Gauntlet" (Clint Eastwood), "Midnight Run" (Di Nero) or even "Silence of the Lambs" (Anthony Hopkins), then you know what I'm talking about when I say "great story". Similarly the acting is fantastic; you can't go wrong with Denzel Washington who has a way of raising the bar for all actors on a production. My one big problem, as a couple other reviewers mentioned, was the jarring, unnecessarily shaky camera and rapid fire edits that upstage the power of this film.

    Ryan Reynolds plays the rookie "Matt" who's basically just a housekeeper at a CIA safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. One day they bring in "Frost" (Denzel Washington) who is basically James Bond with a bad attitude. One thing leads to another, bodies pile up, and Matt finds himself attempting to bring in Frost all by himself, despite a few armies of thugs & spies hot on their trail.

    What makes this film work, much like in "Silence of the Lambs" is the dynamic between the fresh faced rookie and the wise Mr. Miagi prisoner. As events unfold, we see a pupil/teacher relationship develop even though the teacher is supposedly the bad guy. Ryan Reynolds, just like Jodie Foster in Lambs, pulls this off perfectly by seeming young & inexperienced without seeming stupid. On the teacher side we have the excellent Denzel Washington who, just like Anthony Hopkins, conveys a magnetic aura of authority and control, even though he's the one in handcuffs (or in Lambs, a restraining hockey mask). Of course "Safe House" is more of a fast paced action flick than the slow psychological "Silence of the Lambs", and that leads me to my criticism.

    This is just a personal opinion, but I feel like the hyper chaotic camera work and ADD edits killed a great opportunity for a powerful presentation. Note to directors: when you have a colossus like Denzel Washington in front of the camera, just tell your camera man to chill. Tell the gang in the editing room to put down the scissors. Just let the talent speak for itself.

    Instead--I'm not exaggerating here--I started counting at least 1 cut every 2 seconds. And even when the camera was given more time, it would be constantly shaking, zooming in & out, darting about the room like a paranoid crack addict looking for a Starbucks caffè latte. I realize that this was a conscious stylistic choice, and definitely this chaotic style works to elevate bad productions to passable. But when your underlying material is GOOD, then why distract the audience with camera theatrics?

    Ok I'm done with my opinion. Back to the facts. This is a good movie. It has a great story. These are great actors. Regardless of how you prefer your cameras & edits, it's worth checking out.
    helpful•16
    2
    • rooprect
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    Photos

    FAQ2

    • What is "Safe House" about?
    • What's the name of the song from the trailer?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 10, 2012 (United States)
      • South Africa
      • United States
      • Japan
      • English
      • Afrikaans
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Relativity Media
      • Bluegrass Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 55 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
      • SDDS

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