6 Underground (Netflix)

6 billionaires eh? Good to see Bay isn't even trying to make relatable characters anymore

Am hadn't realised Bay was working for Netflix now; given his box office success, I presumed this isn't a production dumped by someone else...

If you ever wondered what a Michael Bay movie would look like utterly unencumbered from such things like a semblance of creative oversight, or even some trace of empathy, Netflix has provided the answer. Completely obnoxious, bewildering chaos with every Bay cliché ramped up to dizzying levels, product placement n all. Not even entertaining or inventive chaos, just oversaturated trash.

I genuinely think Bay has a resting contempt for 'ordinary' human beings, suspecting it but this film finally confirmed my theory: his characters always angry, awful people even Bay himself seemed to hate; here though he took out his misanthropy on everyone. Bystanders killed in leering slow motion, bodies and gore sprayed like his signature explosion sparks. Even a scene during a humanitarian crisis was treated with cynical backchat and kinda sleazy slaughter. Ryan Reynolds' familiar big-mouthed snark only made the mean spiritedness more pronounced.

Between this and The Irishman, I'm wondering if the blank cheques Netflix is writing for these auteurs should come with just a few more caveats.

mikhail wrote: »

I mostly agree, except for that one scene. It was meant to be a St Paul falling off his donkey moment - it's a very abrupt, clumsy character arc from asshole to ... well, different grade of asshole. I found it jarringly callous (and I'm as jaded as the next guy) until I realized it was the whole point. I can admire it for being emotionally effective, even as I completely understand your reaction to it.

Naw, I do get the intention of the moment from the point of view of the script, but not sure I agree it was emotionally effective. It might have worked better if the preceding chase in Italy didn't feature so many innocent bystanders killed in slow motion, while our "heroes" traded apologetic quips over killing them, or screamed at each other in trademark Bay fashion.

It has been said, but Bay really does shoot every scene like it needs to be EPIC, with literally no quiet moments. Weirdly, if for once he had kept the camera steady, and shot the aftermath of the attack as an unflinching scene of horror, it might have worked. Instead he filmed it like he always does, the cinematic equivalent of ALL CAPS SCREAMING.

ted1 wrote: »

The effects were awful, in the 20 minutes I watched cars were blowing up slightly before impacts

You turned off too early, as at the start during the car chase, a vegetable stand blew up in a shower of flame and sparks; Bay is beyond parody at this stage, he's kinda bullet proof really.