Gemini Man (2019)

This is a film that was supposed to matter especially to 80s kids, for two important reasons. One, Will Smith, and the other cloning.

Though cloning became the buzz word since Dolly the sheep tugged our hearts in the nineties (1996, the same year Michael Keaton appeared in Muliplicity, a light hearted take on cloning, which is not light on men’s heart if you consider seeing your many selves being intimate to you wife), the most memorable film about it was, because of the sheer size of the film and its hero, Sixth day.

This film is heavily related to it. More on that later.

And 80s kids – those defined as ones who are now entering middle ages and still figuring out what the hell happened last four decades – are not unfamiliar with TV and movie clones. That decade was filled to the brim with clones running amok and getting shot, or disintegrated, depending on the genres most preferred way of disposing of excess baggage. And we loved Smith in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the action films he started doing in the nineties, as we 80s kids entered adulthood and started paying for our movie tickets. But more on him later...

Now, the premise of Gemini Man is not too different from a Schwarzenegger’s outing, latter-day sci-fi, The Sixth Day…it involves the cloning of self and stuff, except the latter, which is not the best among Arnie’s outing, seem more intelligent.

There is nothing here that makes you want to crack the noodle behind your cranium despite bearing the “espionage” tag. With exception of films made on novels by John Le Carre and Len Deighton, Hollywood does espionage as brilliantly as Western chefs who cook Nasi Lemak with evaporated milk.

And there is nothing new in any department either, the storytelling, the action, the stunts, though the special effect do have something not entirely new but technically proficient to offer.

There is only two things to look out for in this flick: The de-ageing of Will Smith (which is not much, considering Smith looks youthful as he enters middle age), and the one fisticuff between the two, which I thought was entertaining and well made, effect-wise.

Other than that, its just run-of-the mills cat and mouse spy flick that’s full of clichés (betrayal), stereotypes (sidekicks), and formula (…Tom and Jerry). But what struck me was that the two talents involved is not just another recent coolest action director actor partner in town.

No, Between Ang Lee and Will Smith, there are awards, accolades, raindrops of praises, therefore expectations.  What happens in this film is the collection of the worst from both. In short, it’s just another paycheck flick in between some quality stuff they are known to have given us…at least in the case of Lee.

It’s a story about cloning, and the protagonist's clone, a younger self, is sent to kill our hero. How he sorts it out, and the ride filled with some really tame, stale action sequences is what maketh this popcorn flick. Slam! Bang! Pow! And we are done.

Honestly, the Sixth Day at least did ask some serious questions on the cloning issues, with even some religious morality thrown in for good measure when we see protests in the film, being pooh-poohed. Clone is here to stay. It is good for the medical fraternity. It is good for the ever hungry world…and back in the 80s it was really good to the TV series…and it was…especially when big moustache, and terrible wise-cracking ruled the small screen.

When clone issues cropped in Arnie’s Sixth Day, the nostalgic side of me lapped it up, plus with Schwarzenegger at helm, you just use the spare parts storeroom of your brain to do the thinking. And surprisingly, that film had a little bit of emotion and some fairly acceptable storytelling.

Now, coming to this flick, the expectation was naturally high. I did expect fair bit of aestheticism, which is fair because between all those accolades, there’s this golden naked bald guy, remember?

Let’s see, Ang Lee notched up altogether, 8 nominations and three wins. And Will Smith had two nominations. Considering that Smith did not win any, frustration must have led him to do the type of roles previously made popular by Robin Williams and now, role previously made popular by Schwarzenegger, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, the list goes on…

Come to think of it, except for Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith had never actually done anything err..fresh, which makes this entire write-up, that intends to be a review, to take a look at Will Smith’s career and figure out…is he worth all that hoo-has.

In my books, there’s something about Smith that is comparable to, no other than, the Old Blue eyes. No, not Newman…that will be an insult to Paul. I mean, Frank Sinatra…he of New York, New York, Christmas Songs and Rat Pack fame.

Very few, especially the current generation know that Frank is a heck of an actor, and have actually won the best supporting actor Oscar (From Here To Eternity) and pinned many nominations badges that his crooner’s uniform has run out of space.

First and foremost, Frank is an entertainer. And to entertain, he had to know the pulse of the audience. And as a singer, he had them down pat, while as an actor, he hardly disappoints no matter how dismal the film maybe or how mainstream (Von Ryan’s Express is not as great as a McQueen or Heston flick, but was highly entertaining, only elevated Frank’s earnest performance).

Likewise, Smith always had an eye firmly winking at the audience, no matter how weighty the flick is, or how serious the character is. That’s why the producers had the guts to give him the role in Aladdin, the role that Robin Williams just hijacked with immensely charismatic ferocity and used it to conquer our hearts.

Smith made Independence Day fun, when it could have been depressing. Smith was the heart of the three Men In Black flicks, he represented us in the chaotic world he was thrust into and his hilarious commentaries not only tickled us but also had us nodding our heads in unison.

Smith has that power. But somehow, working with Ang Lee, a brilliant auteur in his own rights, something just did not click in this film. I would blame the script that is about as brimming with life as a polished spittoon. Cliched, hackneyed, stereotyped and I am repeating myself. That’s how you would feel when you see the same shit again and again that you had already seen in the 90s.

Anyway, apart from that one standout scene, there is nothing else. There was nothing else to look forward to when you know actually how the film is going to end. You know the end, and also the end after the end (post climax, climax that seemed to be rearing its ugly heads these days because. I believe, producers want to give an option for those who had finished their popcorn and those who had not, especially the post-credit scenes which I call “pee holders”).

Would I recommend to give it a miss? No. Watch it and despise it if you feel like it. Rejections would pressure Hollywood to give us better films over time…and what do you mean foreign market... Aww shucks!