I recently watched an episode of “The Sopranos” where a lower-level member of “the family” inherited two million dollars and wanted to retire to Florida with his wife and young children. You can’t retire from the Mafia. And the British film “Take Cover” starts with Sam Lorde (Scott Adkins) as a sniper for the “Company” eliminating his mark but also wounding the mark’s girlfriend for which he begins to suffer from guilt mixed with burn out. He advises his Company handler Tamara (Alice Eve) he wishes to retire.
His decision leads to deadly complications. His retirement wishes expressed to Tamara are indicative to Tamara of empathetic weakness and unreliability for the Company. Lorde is set up for a very special type of retirement, death by sniper. With his spotter partner Ken (Jack Parr) they head off on Lorde’s last assignment where they are pinned down in a luxurious hotel penthouse suite by Lorde and Ken’s sniper and spotter successors. Joined by two prostitutes they are sitting ducks.
There is interesting chatter amongst the ladies, Ken and Lorde particularly about Lorde’s role as a sniper and why he is disillusioned and burnt out.
Then the intense action begins and bodies fall here and there amidst escalating tension set in an ocean of betrayal. Tamara with a silky and smooth Brit voice once supportive of Ken and Lorde morphs the supportive and replaces it with Arctic brutality.
Against all odds poetic justice is partially realized. Such treachery.
Tightly choregraphed fight scenes and lots of bullets whizzing here and there. Exciting.
Lorde and Ken make an excellent squabbling pair with their acting ability. Supporting actress Mona Bellaria Ion as Mona is a character with insight and delivers a compelling performance. Aside from a weak death scene of one of the good guys flawless acting. And what constitutes the “good guys” is the intellectual component of the film.
Directed by Nick McKinless.
In theatres and On Demand commencing 4October2024.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 84/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 