NOBODY

Never in a million years would I have ever thought that Bob Odenkirk would be next in line to become an action movie star, the seasoned actor best known for playing the sleazy Saul Goodman in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Ever since Liam Neeson wowed audiences in Taken to prove that the older generation have it in them to kick some serious ass in Hollywood there's been a rise in the number of older actors having a go at doing an action movie, the end result here being Nobody.

Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is an underestimated and overlooked dad and husband, taking life's indignities on the chin and never pushing back. A nobody. When two thieves break into his suburban home one night, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. The aftermath of the incident strikes a match to Hutch's long-simmering rage, triggering dormant instincts and propelling him on a brutal path that will surface dark secrets and lethal skills. In a barrage of fists, gunfire and squealing tires, Hutch must save his family from a dangerous adversary (Aleksey Serebryakov)-and ensure that he will never be underestimated as a nobody again.

Nobody is a film not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve, knowing exactly what it is and owning it from start to finish. With that in mind, this is one of the best action movies of the year, simple in its premise yet executed so intricately and brutally that it's a real crowd-pleasing cinematic experience. A lot of the best action movies share this in common with Nobody, in fact one of the best action franchises in modern history kicked off with a film about a man taking revenge on those who killed his dog. Events set in motion here by a father desparate to get his daughter's kitty cat bracelet back not feeling too much of a strecth in that sense.

Think Falling Down meets John Wick and you'll get a sense of what this film is all about, a man living a mundane existence until a chance encounter leads him down a path of vengeance. The action is frequent, brutal and, most importantly, coherent as Ilya Naishuller delivers bone-crunching violence in such a playful manner, aided magnificently by one of the best accompanying soundtracks I've heard this year. Gerry & The Pacemakers' You'll Never Walk Alone playing alongside such an over-the-top finale seals the fact that Nobody is a symphony of violence you simply don't want to miss.

Bob Odenkirk is one of those underrated actors who goes about stealing the show in just about everything he turns up in and it's really great to see him leading his own action vehicle in Nobody. Odenkirk is fully committed to the role and that shows in his weighty performance of a man ready to do what he must to protect his family's honour. He nails the dark side of the humour to the character as well, just as quick with a quip as he is with his fists. Joining him for the ride are a very game Christopher Lloyd who is honestly a joy to watch have his fun with a ton of weaponry, and RZA, who steals the kill of the film from Odenkirk with a pretty nifty move with a sniper rifle.

Nobody is a cinematic breath of fresh air that comes along every so often, not worrying about building a franchise and simply doing what it's best at. It's tons of fun that makes the most of such a simple premise to become an absolute belter of an action movie that is well worth heading back to the cinema for.

Verdict: ★★★★