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INTRODUCTION.
“The Beekeeper,” 2024 is a gripping action-packed thriller from the creative minds of director David Ayer and writer Kurt Wimmer. This movie stars the formidable Jason Statham alongside a stellar cast including Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Phylicia Rashad, and Jeremy Irons.
On January 12, 2024, Amazon MGM Studios unveiled “The Beekeeper” across the United States, presenting it proudly under the banner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. It runs for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
WHAT IS THE BEEKEEPER MOVIE ABOUT? PLOT/SYNOPSIS.
In the quiet, landscapes of Massachusetts, where the days are punctuated by the gentle buzz of bees, retired schoolteacher Eloise Parker lived a life of solitude. Her only companion, the mysterious tenant Adam Clay, who spent his days amidst the hives in her barn, seemed to be nothing more than a quiet beekeeper.
Eloise, a woman of kindness and dedication, managed a charity with the same fervor she once brought to her classroom. Her life took a dark turn when she became the victim of a sophisticated phishing scam, losing over $2 million—a devastating blow, as the majority of the funds belonged to the charity she so dearly managed. The loss was more than financial; it was a blow to her very soul. In her despair, Eloise saw no way out and took her own life.
Her body was discovered by Clay, but the quiet beekeeper was not what he seemed. His discovery of Eloise’s body landed him in the grasp of the FBI, led by none other than Eloise’s daughter, Agent Verona Parker. The death though ruled a suicide, was just the beginning of a complex web of intrigue that would pull Clay back into a world he thought he had left behind.
Verona, driven by a relentless pursuit of justice for her mother, shared with Clay that the scammers were part of a larger, elusive network that the FBI had been tracking for years. Stirred by a deep-seated need for vengeance, Clay reached out to the Beekeepers, a shadowy organization with which he had a past as murky and complex as the motives of those he sought to bring down.
The Beekeepers, a group known only to those who truly needed to know, provided Clay with the information he needed to start his hunt. His quest led him to a call center, a facade for the dark dealings of Mickey Garnett, a pawn in the grand scheme orchestrated by the technology mogul Derek Danforth. The confrontation was brutal—a message to Danforth that Clay was coming.
But Danforth was not one to be easily intimidated. Protected by Wallace Westwyld, a former CIA director with ties that ran deep into the underbelly of international espionage, Danforth prepared for war. The battle lines were drawn, not just in the shadows but within the very institutions meant to protect the innocent. The CIA, the FBI, and the Beekeepers themselves became entangled in a conflict that threatened to spill into the streets of Boston.
Adam Clay, once a keeper of bees, now found himself at the heart of a storm. His adversaries underestimated him, not knowing his true capabilities or the depths of his resolve. The scammers had taken something irreplaceable from him, driving Eloise to her end. Now, fueled by a need for retribution that burned hotter than the hives in summer, Clay embarked on a path that would leave destruction in its wake.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BEEKEEPER MOVIE.
“The Beekeeper,” starring Jason Statham, is a movie that I went into with minimal expectations, only to find myself surprisingly entertained, albeit for reasons not entirely commendable. This movie, in essence, is an amalgamation of absurdity, action-packed sequences, and a script that often teeters on the brink of being intolerably cheesy. Yet, therein lies its charm for those willing to overlook its glaring flaws for a bit of mindless entertainment.
CHARACTER PERFORMANCE.
Jason Statham, as Adam Clay, delivers exactly what fans have come to expect from him: a hard-hitting, no-nonsense action hero who can carry a movie by sheer physical presence and charisma alone. However, the character of Verona Parker stands out for all the wrong reasons. Her portrayal was, to put it mildly, a significant let-down.
The character felt out of sync with the movie’s tone, and the performance did little to elevate the material. It was a blend of overacting and underdeveloped character motivation that consistently pulled me out of the experience.
Jeremy Irons can deliver exposition about beekeeping in an engaging manner and Josh Hutcherson is awake for this one.
The Beekeeper isn’t as tight or condensed as the films it borrows from thanks to an unexpectedly dense mythology but it delivers where it counts. It’s essentially Jason Statham beating people up for 100 minutes and it never gets old.
Fortunately, the ending doesn’t overtly dangle the possibility of a sequel, yet the prospect of more installments is certainly appealing. As it stands, there hasn’t been any formal information concerning the development of a second Beekeeper movie. Since its debut on January 12, 2024, the first film has sparked curiosity and enthusiasm among enthusiasts eager to discover whether a follow-up is on the horizon.
WRITING STYLE AND STORY.
The premise of “The Beekeeper” is enticing—a revenge thriller with a fresh take on the fight against scam call centers. Yet, the execution falters with a script bogged down by government conspiracy clichés and dialogues riddled with bee puns that more often miss than hit. The story’s attempt to mimic the success of films like “John Wick” is evident, but it lacks the sophistication and the compelling world-building that made its predecessor a genre-defining classic. The dialogue, particularly, was a low point, detracting from the film’s potential impact.
The score by David Sardy & Jared Michael Fry is a huge part of why this works, treating the dumbest twists with the utmost seriousness.
CINEMATOGRAPHY AND VISUAL DESIGN.
David Ayer’s direction shines in the action sequences and visual presentation of the film. The neon aesthetic and the choreography of the fight scenes are commendable, providing a visually stimulating experience that aligns well with the movie’s attempt at a stylized action thriller. The cinematography, especially in the action sequences, manages to capture the chaos and energy, making them the highlight of the movie.
THEMES.
While “The Beekeeper” struggles with its narrative and character development, it does touch upon themes of revenge, redemption, and the impact of technological scams on individuals. The moral message, albeit not groundbreaking, adds a layer of relevance to the story. However, the movie’s inconsistent tone and pacing often undermine the seriousness of these themes.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BEEKEEPER.
According to IMDB, Adam Clay’s birth date from the FBI file is 7/26/1967, which is Jason Statham’s actual birth date.
CONCLUSION.
“The Beekeeper” is a film that, despite its many faults, manages to entertain in a way that few movies do. It’s a testament to the fact that not all cinema needs to be high art to be enjoyable.
While the writing and some performances leave much to be desired, the action sequences and Jason Statham’s unwavering screen presence provide enough of a reason to watch it, especially for fans of the genre looking for straightforward entertainment. It’s a movie that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, oscillating between a serious action thriller and a campy action romp.
Despite its shortcomings, I found myself entertained, albeit occasionally for reasons I suspect the filmmakers hadn’t intended.
The Beekeeper is rated R for intense sequences of violence, widespread explicit language, occasional sexual content, and substance use.
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