Title: The Contractor
Directed by: Tarik Saleh
Runtime: 1hr 43 min
IMDB synopsis: A discharged U.S. Special Forces sergeant, James Harper, risks everything for his family when he joins a private contracting organization.
I am an admitted sucker for these Special Operations/spy/surveillance type of movies. Despite the standard tropes found in each of those movies, more often than not they’re a fun watch if nothing else. The Contractor fits that bill perfectly.
Chris Pine is a man who seems to get a decent amount of work yet you still want to see in more things. If you enjoyed him in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, you will enjoy him here as James Harper.
Recently discharged and without military benefits or pension, James Harper needs a way to provide for his wife, Brianne (Gillian Jacobs), and son. He teams up with another former soldier in Mike (Ben Foster) who offers to get James work that will take care of his family while not putting himself in any danger.
The private contracting organization is headed up by one Rusty Jennings (Kiefer Sutherland) who agrees to being James on board. He gives James a $50,000 check upfront to give to Brianne while he is on assignment in Berlin. Once in Berlin, things are not what they seem and James needs to fight to survive.
Chris Pine and Ben Foster have fantastic chemistry together, they are quite believable as former brothers in arms. The character depth given to James Harper relies heavily on the use of flashback scenes. While I appreciate the main protagonist being given depth, I am not sure if the reliance on flashbacks was the best way to go about it.
If you are paying attention, you will see that The Contractor tips its hand a little too much in the first act, making the third act a tad predictable. Having said that, the journey to the third act is an enjoyable one. Will this movie win awards? Most likely not. But is it a fun action thriller to throw on and get lost in? You bet it is.
Have you seen The Contractor? If you have, leave a comment below or reach out on social media and let me know, ”I’ve Scene That!”