Antonio Banderas’ soulful performance in Pain And Glory made me really re-appreciate him as an actor. But also seeing him carry a Direct to Video action movie called Security (2017) was another testament to his presence and talent. Banderas is not sleep walking through this moderately budgeted B-movie Die Hard rip off where he plays a special forces veteran looking for employment, who gets a job working as a shopping mall security guard. And before you say “a serious version of Paul Blart: Mall Cop”, on Banderas’ very first night shift, a young kid is knocking on the closed doors asking for help. Turns out they’re a federal witness in a case against organised crime and there’s a team of high tech assassins out to get them, fronted by Ben Kingsley seemingly doing a Richard Burton impression and no doubt available for two to three days of shooting. Despite the low budget and direct to digital destination, Banderas commits to the movie, giving it gravity and charisma even as he’s doing the impossible, sliding down a floor with his arms outstretched firing two guns like it’s a 1990s action flick. The movie escalates in enjoyment from the second act onwards (basically the point when an assassin climbs up the side of the mall with mountain axes like he’s a scuttling arachnid). There’s a team of young coworkers eager to help Banderas defend the mall with makeshift traps and devices; they only start to get interesting once you realise they can get picked off and this Assault On Shopping Precinct 13 is for keeps. A little bit silly and lots of cliches, but a fun Friday night Netflix watch. I don’t want to raise your expectations; this is a right down the line average action flick, but I was entertained. Recommended.
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