KZBlog

Go see Wanted [Особо Опасен in Russian] which opened on June 27th in the US and on June 26th in Kazakhstan. Why am I talking about this film and why did it open in Kazakhstan before it opened in the US? Because the director, Timur Bekmambetov is a native son of Kazakhstan, born in Atyrau. He moved to Moscow presumably because of the better developed film industry there and is most famous for making Night Watch and Day Watch which came out in the US as well as Russia. How did Bekmambetov get to make his first Hollywood movie with stars like Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman? His own genius. Universal Pictures was looking for a fresh look for the movie adaptation of Wanted, originally a graphic novel, it picked Bekmambetov.

Producer Mark Platt comments: The cinematic experience of Timur’s work and the visual language employed by him are so unique, eye-popping and extraordinary, I knew his was a voice that had to be heard. I had never experienced visual images in that way.”

From the Official site of the film

I don’t want to spoil the film by reviewing it in too much detail but it’s a fun action movie with awesome special effects and a great plot. It is very bloody and graphic in showing violence, but there’s also a lot of humor and character depth. As for Bekmambetov’s work, the movie has a unique and beautiful visual style. He has a great sense of tempo–one long action sequence is filmed as a single moving shot, but the pace speeds up and slows down elegantly to show every movement at its best. He definitely has a unique voice as an action director.

So hopefully the next ad we see on CNN promoting Kazakhstan will feature Bekmambetov and his films instead of the same old shot of Bayterek! Maybe they’ll invite Angelina Jolie to come to Kazakhstan. I’m happy to show her around if she does come!