Safe House (**1/2 out of ****)

For some reason it feels like every other action movie since The Bourne Ultimatum has been trying to be like it in some way. It's the crazy editing, brutal fights, C.I.A monitoring that we see far too often. Safe House is another one of those films and while it's not great, it isn't too bad either.

Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) is a C.I.A operative that sits in a "safe house" all day long. Twelve months and no visitors until the day Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) is brought in. Tobin is a rouge agent that has worse enemies than the county he betrayed. Those villains attack and Matt must bring Tobin to the next Safe House, of course it won't be that easy.

The film is a mix of good and bad. There are two thrilling action scenes and about three confusing ones (the editing makes it unclear what's happening). Like Matt, the audience is not sure whether to trust Tobin, it's fun for a while but in the long run it isn't great. The villains follow a predictable formula (I called the ending after ten minutes). There's nothing truly wrong with this film, but nothing to make memorable. One day later and I feel unaffected by viewing it. Props to Denzel for actually getting water boarded in the film. 

PS: can anyone explain to me why somebody calls Tobin Frost "the black Dorian Gray". I've been thinking about it and either the line is incredibly simple or I'm mixing something.

**1/2 out of ****