Captivating and Emotionally Charged: Unveiling the Heart of Stone

The modern Netflix action blockbusters like The Gray Man, Red Notice, or Extraction are widely recognized for their predictable elements. Unfortunately, they prioritize celebrity over compelling storytelling and fail to bring anything new to the table within their respective genres. Now, joining the ranks is Heart of Stone, featuring Gal Gadot as a rare repeat collaborator on Netflix's factory-like system for churning out movies.

Directed by the accomplished TV director Tom Harper and penned by Allison Schroeder, known for her work on Hidden Figures, along with Greg Rucka, the writer behind the highly regarded adaptation of his own comic The Old Guard, Heart of Stone reaches the screen. However, this film marks a disappointing decline for Rucka as a respected comic book author when he is not building upon his previous source material.

Heart of Stone is a compelling story that revolves around a skilled spy named Stone and his pursuit of a perilous MacGuffin known as The Heart. This screenplay truly exemplifies the art of pun-based writing. We are introduced to Rachel Stone, played by the talented Gal Gadot, who joins forces with an experienced MI6 team in their mission to the picturesque mountains of Italy. However, their carefully laid plans take an unexpected turn, leading Stone to unleash the full power of magnificent stunts in her valiant attempt to save the day. Little do her colleagues know, Stone is actually a member of Charter, a mysterious organization of intelligence agents operating beyond the realm of global politics, dedicated to maintaining peace. The Heart serves as their most valuable asset - an intricate AI system capable of extracting data from any system, disabling electronic devices, and guiding Stone much like a video game tutorial. Their mission proceeds smoothly until a prodigious hacker manages to incapacitate their nightmarish supercomputer, jeopardizing the security of the technology falling into the wrong hands. To protect their dystopian privacy-invading data collection device, Stone and her comrades embark on a thrilling hunt to track down the hacker and ensure its safety.

Heart of Stone exemplifies the misguided approach of major studios. With an abundance of failed cinematic universes, Stone ambitiously sets its sights on the Mission: Impossible franchise. It feels as though the film is rushing to reap the financial rewards of the anticipated fifth and sixth installments of Tom Cruise's spy series, almost serving as a precursor for the sequels they anticipate. However, beyond the central characters of Stone and the young hacker, the rest of the cast lacks depth. While the action sequences are adequate, they fail to capture the allure of Tom Cruise's propensity for defying death in every alternate scene. Although there are stunts, it is difficult to discern their authenticity. The few well-executed action moments crumble when Gal Gadot's character inexplicably manages to evade gunfire. Heart of Stone comes across as an experiment to prove a concept but lacks any soul, rendering it unsuccessful.

One could generously argue that Heart of Stone lacks a meaningful message. If it attempts to convey a perspective, it does so without thoughtful consideration. Imagine a version of The Dark Knight in which Batman spends most of the film justifying and preserving his surveillance network. Instead of advocating for the responsible use and eventual disposal of extreme measures akin to the Patriot Act, Heart of Stone suggests that the delicate balance between order and chaos hinges on a group of unaccountable spies stealing all the data on Earth. The Heart does more than just aggregate information; it predicts the actions of every individual involved in a given situation. While the notion that it falling into the "wrong hands" poses a threat, it is disconcerting how few people recognize that it should not be accessible by anyone. This film lacks depth and insight. Its thesis appears to be that good people should hold power, bad people should not, and no one should contemplate the ramifications of wielding such power.

As a box office phenomenon, Gal Gadot is akin to a musician exploring uncharted territory and adamantly refusing to retreat. She has played prominent roles in numerous major franchises, yet Hollywood's attempts to present her with substantial opportunities have struggled to gain traction. Despite the industry's desire for her success, viewers either endure her presence or incessantly mock her. While Jamie Dornan, Paul Ready, and Alia Bhatt deliver commendable performances, the camera treats them mere adornments, existing solely to complement Gadot's screen presence. The film's purpose as a franchise vehicle for an actress more adept at striking dramatic poses than anything else is impossible to overlook.

Heart of Stone lacks excitement and curiosity, making it a dull watch. The film offers nothing new or worthwhile, with its plot resembling those of recent spy films, particularly the Mission: Impossible series. Perhaps only dedicated fans of Gal Gadot will find any redeeming qualities in Heart of Stone. Although ranking Netflix's action blockbusters is not a worthwhile pursuit, this film is unlikely to attract new subscribers. Despite attempting to be more profound than The Gray Man, Heart of Stone only ends up burying itself deeper. It may serve as a way to pass a lazy afternoon, but it falls short of being the showcase Gal Gadot has been searching for.