Kate (2021)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Kate (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime
Length:  106 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: 87North, Screen Arcade, Netflix
Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Writer: Umair Aleem
Actors: Amelia Crouch, Ava Caryofyllis, Elysia Rotaru, Eoin O'Brien, Jun Kunimura, Mari Yamamoto, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michiel Huisman, Miku Patricia Martineau, Miyavi, Patrick Newall, Tadanobu Asano, Ulf Pilblad, Woody Harrelson
 
Blurb from IMDb:  A female assassin has 24 hours to get vengeance on her murderer before she dies.

Cat’s Point of View:
Kate landed at my #6 pick on September’s Top 20 Movies to Look Out For list. (Selina had Kate listed as her #4.) Based on the trailer and my research for the article, I had some pretty solid expectations for this production.
 
Did Kate live up to what I built up in my mind? Absolutely. Let’s break it down into my primary realms of anticipation.

 
First, the cast looked outstanding. 

Woody Harrelson (The Glass Castle, The Highwaymen, The Freak Brothers) is generally a solid bet, whether you’re looking for a lunatic or a calculating strategist. He’s excelled at roles that cover the full spectrum. When you pair him up with Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane, Fargo, Birds of Prey), who plays the titular character in Kate, it absolutely delivers a winning dynamic.
 
Winstead has already proven to be an action badass, but the level of fight and stunt choreography that she pulled off, while making it look easy, was unreal. I bought 100% of what she was selling and then some. Her struggles with her past and the rapid downslide of her health were in every moment, even while she was kicking ass.

 
Tadanobu Asano (47 Ronin, Midway, Mortal Kombat), Jun Kunimura (Shin Godzilla, Fullmetal Alchemist, Midway), and Miyavi (Unbroken, Bleach, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) really stood out. Miyavi took part in one of the most brutal fight scenes of the movie, while Asano and Kunimura skillfully embodied their roles within the Yakuza echelon.
 
I really appreciated Miku Patricia Martineau (Carl's Car Wash, Finny the Shark) in her supporting role, as well. She embodied the heart of the story to a T and gave some much-needed comedic moments to this otherwise brutal thrill ride. Kudos to her, since this was her full-length cinematic debut.

 
The second factor I had high expectations for revolved around the production quality, itself. With Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s (The Ring, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter's War) background in visual effects, I had no doubt that Kate was going to be gorgeous. I loved the way the city with all its neon glow and cultural nuances worked into the landscape of both the scenes and the story. I got a kick out of recognizing an anime playing on the facing of a skyscraper in the background. The car with pink neon shown in the trailer was a nice touch, too. Little things like that, added up with the larger aspects of the action and narrative and made an overall well-rounded entertainment experience.
 
Of course, I honestly shouldn’t have expected anything less from the get-go considering Kate was helmed by the 87North production company. Of course, that name might sound familiar to some, but slightly off. That’s because they were formerly called 87Eleven, which was the company behind the John Wick (2014) franchise and other kick-ass titles like Atomic Blonde (2017) and Ninja Assassin (2009).

 
Critics have been quick to bash Kate because it’s another female assassin movie following a familiar trope. There’s a new spin to it this time, and I think all of the elements that come together to create the big picture (no pun intended) elevate Kate to the top of the genre.
 
If you’re looking for an action-thriller to get your blood pumping at a breakneck pace, yet also a story of revenge and redemption, I can’t recommend Kate enough. It had all the bells and whistles and then some. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score –40%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 55%
Metascore – 47%
Metacritic User Score – 6.3/10
IMDB Score – 6.3/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer: