AKA – Netflix Review (4/5)

AKA on Netflix is a new crime thriller from France. At almost two hours, you might think it’s too long, but it actually isn’t. However, it is extremely brutal, violent, and realistic in many depictions. Not least political maneuvering. Read our full AKA movie review here!

AKA is a new Netflix movie from France. This one begins with a bang and doesn’t slow down much. With a runtime of around two hours, I was sure it would feel too long. Or at least too slow at times. Neither is the case as this action thriller is intense all the way through.

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Be sure to check out Restless on Netflix >

The intensity comes from the very direct action scenes and all the plotting and scheming going on. The body count is very high in this movie, but it doesn’t glorify violence. Instead, it is shown as a tool used by both criminals and those who are sent on missions by governments. Whether these missions are official or not is another thing.

Continue reading our AKA movie review below. Find it on Netflix from April 28, 2023.

Alban Lenoir is an amazing action star

When I refer to Alban Lenoir as an “amazing action star” in the above, I don’t mean to downplay his acting talent. In fact, the reason he works so well as an action star for me is precisely because I also experience his feelings about what he does. This is obviously due to him being a talented actor.

Also, he is an actual stuntman, so he really knows how to do action in the physical sense.

I don’t think I’ve seen Alban Lenoir in much before, but he was in the brilliant Netflix horror series Marianne, which sadly only got one season. Something many horror fans were upset about when the news broke!

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The French horror series Marianne on Netflix, which currently has an IMDb rating of 7.4 >

Also in the cast on AKA on Netflix is Eric Cantona. He isn’t the star of this movie (Alban Lenoir is) but is a key character and delivers yet another strong portrayal of a somewhat unlikable man. But one who can also have moments of being fiercely loyal and fair.

If you want to watch something where Eric Cantona is the star, then check out Inhuman Ressources on Netflix >

Who are the bad guys here?

From that wild opening scene, you’ll be wondering who the bad guys are in the Netflix movie AKA. Or actually, you’ll probably wonder more about who the good guys are. There are so many bad guys, who all fight for different things – power, revenge, freedom, etc. – that it’s possible to sympathize with them.

But also, you can’t trust too many people. The bad guys have redeeming qualities just as the good guys can do very bad things.

There are many aspects to the storyline in AKA that go above and beyond it being “just” an action movie. That’s where the thriller element comes in. And also where we as viewers are forced to recognize that we rarely know what’s going on until we have the full picture.

We know what we’re told, but can we trust those telling us the “truth”? Whenever politicians are talking, I think we know the answer to that. And yes, they may bend the truth a bit for good reasons, but somebody always pays the price.

Watch AKA on Netflix now!

The director of AKA is Morgan S. Dalibert and he also wrote the screenplay along with the star of the film, Alban Lenoir. Taking part in both writing and starring in movies is nothing new for Alban Lenoir. He also starred in the Netflix movie  Lost Bullet (2020) which he took part in writing as well. Also, as mentioned earlier, he is a stuntman.

Director Morgan S. Dalibert was the cinematographer on Lost Bullet (org. title: Balle perdue), so the two know one another from that Netflix production. It even has a sequel! However, they also worked together on the 2005 production Nouveau monde where Alban Lenoir starred and Morgan S. Dalibert co-wrote, co-directed, and produced.

If this movie becomes a success, I’m sure this duo will be ready to make more Netflix productions. And to be fair, AKA deserves to become a huge hit. Both due to the intelligent and complex story as well as the awesome action scenes!

AKA is on Netflix globally from April 28, 2023.

Details

Director: Morgan S. Dalibert
Screenwriters: Morgan S. Dalibert, Alban Lenoir
Cast: Alban Lenoir, Eric Cantona, Thibault de Montalembert, Sveva Alviti, Lucille Guillaume, Saïdou Camara, Kevin Layne, Philippe Résimont, Nathalie Odzierejko, Noé Chabbat, Vincent Heneine