Film Review: XXX (2002)
Beginning of the 21st Century was the time when at least some in Hollywood were trying to start new things. Like, for example, find new, “cool” and “hip” alternative for character of James Bond whose penchant for bow ties, tailor-made suits, fine food and drink, knowledge of foreign language, as well as being an obedient and valuable employee of state bureaucracy, made his appearance and more at odds of everything US teenagers – the increasingly important segment of cinema going audience – stood for. An attempt was made to find new action hero who would be better suited for MTV Generation. The choice fell on Vin Diesel, a gifted and muscular actor who established himself as charismatic anti-hero of Pitch Black and later made even bigger impact in The Fast and the Furious, which would ultimately spawn one of the most successful film franchise of 21st Century. The latter film was directed by Rob Cohen, who would team with Diesel during production of 2002 action film XXX, ambitious project that was supposed to start another Bond-like series.
Diesel plays Xander Cage, fanatical extreme sports enthusiast and adrenaline addict who also harbours strong resentment towards any kind of authority. Because of that he often gets in trouble with the law. When one of his latest stunts targetting conservative politician makes him likely to spend some time behind prison bars, this appears opportunity to be used by Augustus Gibbons (played by Samuel L. Jackson), one of top NSA agents. He offers Cage the way out of his legal trouble – he must work undercover for the government and infiltrate Anarchy 99, dangerous radical group made of former Soviet elite soldiers and led by Yorgi (played by Marton Csokas). Since Cage’s way of life and world view are in tune with those of Yorgi and his ilk, Cage, despite being amateur, is more likely to succeed in what NSA professionals failed to do and thus win Yorgi’s trust. Cage arrives to Prague where Yorgi has bought night clubs and built small business empire that serves as front for his illegal activities. Cage discovers that those activities are just cover for something much sinister – plan to release former Soviet biochemical weapon that would destroy modern civilisation. During his investigation, he also becomes close to Yelena (played by Asia Argento), female member of Yorgi’s group who might not be what she claims to be.
Seen from today’s perspective, XXX looks like textbook example of Hollywood summer blockbusters having their content completely aligned with US government propaganda. However, for the audience twenty years ago, this was hidden by the script that tried to wrap this content as some sort of celebration of individualism, rebelliousness and anti-establishment attitudes that are even more extreme than those among Boomers in late 1960s. The protagonist, with his tattoos, “cool” cars, “extreme” music (represented by Rammstein whose members have cameo appearance playing themselves) rejects authority and tradition to almost parodical degree (like in a brief scene where he compares listening to opera with torture). XXX promotes hedonism to a degree which sacrifices common sense, law, good manners and decency, while at the same time celebrating activities like dangerous driving that would, if practised by people in real world the way Cage practises them on screen, result in death and destruction. Like so many Hollywood blockbusters of 21st Century, XXX hides that through PG-13 censorship rating that removes disturbing consequences of such activities.
After a while some viewers would ask themselves what makes Cage a hero instead of a villain. Scriptwriters give answer by making a villain a character that would take Cage’s world view to even more extreme level. While Yorgi with his Russian background fits into post-Cold War criteria of Hollywood’s evildoers, he is part of the former regime that wants to resurrect Communist tyranny nor ruthless oligarch motivated by greed. Instead, he is actual anarchist that wants to replace Western civilisation with something different and, as the film suggest, much more violent and chaotic. In the script by Rich Wilkes you could almost sense feeling of anxiety cause by the events of 9/11 and ability of small number of troublemakers to challenge not only established order but in question everything world has taken for granted. XXX ultimately suggests that such order much preserved by all means; although not with invading and bombing Third World countries, sending innocent people to torture chambers of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo or establishing global system of Orwellian surveillance and censorship. In this film having one “cool” extreme sports enthusiasm would do.
From the strictly technical standpoint, XXX is solid film that would provide at least some entertainment to the audience unable or unwilling to pay attention to its propaganda message. Rob Cohen has already proven himself as good action director and here he does a solid job of compensating for the mediocre script. Action scenes are impressive, despite having llittle to do with the laws of logic and gravity. What makes them even more attractive is Cohen’s homages to ome classic moments from Bond films. Those homages include even sime supporting characters, like NSA technical expert, played by Joe Buccar III, being portrayed as young and “hip” version of Q from Bond series. The acting is solid. Diesel could have played character of Cage in his sleep. The other characters are reduced to one-dimensional stereotypes. Asia Argento could have been just another forgettable Bond Girl, if not for her exotic looks, but even that can’t hide lack of romantic chemistry with Diesel. Picturesque Prague locations (which were not long before production site of destructive anti-globalist protests) are put to good use. XXX had box office success, but ultimately failed to become new Bond series. In 2005 XXX: State of the Union, a sequel with Ice Cube replacing Diesel as new protagonist, turned into box office bomb. The series was successfully resurrected in 2017 with Diseel returning in XXX: Return of Xander Cage.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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