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Kate (2021) can be considered a westernized version of international action-thriller films. The most recent is Netflix’s The Night Comes for Us (2018), which has a similar premise, though a different cast. Action-packed and heavily gory, action-thriller movies lack the emotional development usually found in a typical action film. Arriving at just over an hour and a half, Kate (2021) is action-packed, kicking asses and taking no prisoners. Despite Kate‘s passing greatness, the depth of the story does not quite deliver. However, what differentiates Kate from the rest of the crowd is that she represents these tropes while providing a female perspective, which is rare in any case. Ultimately, it is for this reason that Kate remains quite an entertaining film. (( Who wouldn’t want to see Winstead kick people’s butt? )) (( Shooting locations for Kate (2021) include Thailand, Tokyo, Japan, and Los Angeles, California. )). Kate was released on September 10th, 2021, on Netflix. Available for streaming currently in the U.S.
Who/What Is Netflix’s Kate (2021)?
In most action-thriller films, the main protagonist has already committed an act of misconduct and must pay the price months, years, or even decades later. It is also possible that it is a family situation in which a friend has become family and has turned their back on their brotherly behavior (most times, this is the premise of action-thrillers). It is often men who are at the forefront, and they are pretty gruesome in their content. Netflix’s Kate follows the same premise; only she is portrayed as a badass female character.
Kate is a world-class assassin (aren’t they all?) who is meticulous, skilled, and at the top of her game. One night, while on a mission, she mishandled an assignment intended to target a member of the Yazuka in Tokyo. Her next discovery is that she has been poisoned; as a result of the brutal twenty-four-hour execution, she declares that revenge must be exacted. Despite Kate’s deteriorating health, she develops an unlikely bond with the teenage daughter of one of her past victims, Ani.
The Main Cast, “Kate & Varrick”
There is a great deal of star power in Kate, and I guess that is why I expected some genuinely high-quality performances, and while they are not bad, they are not at their best during the first act, and, in many regards, the second act either. Ani, who appears in the second half, is the strongest character; however, she is also the youngest, making her likable. Performing the role of Kate, Mary Elizabeth Winstead adheres to the expectations of the genre. Although the acting is not poor, it appears rather robotic at the antecedent. Unsure if this may be attributed to the briefness of Kate’s background or if it is part of the mise-en-scène. Unfortunately, it did not bode well with my viewing. This first act was somewhat strenuous for Kate and Varrick (Woody Harrelson). As Varrick did not play a significant role until the end, I believe he was a missing character, which is a shame for Harrelson.
Immediately after the film begins, it shows her past, but it is forced, jarring, and rushed. Since the film runs for 106 minutes, we do not get much backstory on the characters. Except for Ani, we do not find any significant indications that would cause us to care. Being impressionable and young is advantageous for her emotional development. We barely get a sense of who Kate is before the film begins. We only saw one kill to demonstrate her skill, but it was only one example. After that, she failed the next case, so it was a bit jarring to begin with. This is supposed to make us attached to her character but fails to do so. Although Mary Elizabeth Winstead tries her best to fulfill the role of Kate, she and Woody Harrelson are the most underdeveloped characters in the film.
As Julian Roman points out in his article, “Kate Review: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Goes Savage in Underwhelming Action Thriller:”
Kate doesn’t offer anything new. That said, it is a watchable action film. Mary Elizabeth Winstead goes on a stabbing and slicing frenzy. Appendages are diced like tomatoes under her furor. She takes quite a beating on her quest. Her body breaks down from cuts, punches, and effects of the poisoning. Winstead has screen presence and it’s evident. She is a capable action heroine.
(( Roman, Julian. “Kate Review: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Goes Savage in Underwhelming Action Thriller.” Movieweb, September 8, 2021. )).
The Teenager, “Ani”
As the teenage Ani, Miku Martineau was one of the most notable characters. As soon as Ani is introduced, the film gains momentum in terms of acting, time, and space. There is no doubt that Miku Martineau shines in Kate. Her dialogue makes me want to watch, and she has a way of capturing my attention wherever she goes. Despite her acting being inconsistent, it serves her childish mentality in this violent world. In the frustration of never being able to take care of herself, it is understandable to see how she looks up to Kate as the being that she is. Finally, there is now someone who can help her get out of the corner in which she feels trapped. The part about that is wonderful.
Overall, these two lack the chemistry I expected for a mother and daughter duo (while the forthcoming scene is visually stunning, it lacks an emotional impact), but it nonetheless works. There is probably no better sequence between Ani and Kate than when they are taking the taxi together. This demonstrates their ability to act, use the scene, and make use of the camera. The film showed more chemistry in this scene than had been shown to the audience in the rest of the film. Ani and Kate are vulnerable, the background is illuminated in a blue sadness, and the lack of focus is used to great effect within this conversation. The development of Kate‘s overall character is really evident after this point. Perhaps it is due to the elevated relationship between her and Ani, but their relationship significantly picks up in the third act.
Supporting Cast In Kate (2021)
Kate‘s other cast members are all perfectly adequate. The truth is they’re all just badass mafia men, so their stance is fine. However, because they are not a key part of the plot, there is a lack of focus on the antagonists. As a result, there is little to no information about the villain, and by the time we learn about him, it is too late. Kate’s quest to discover the truth is at the heart of Kate (2021).
The Filmmaking Of Kate (2021): Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (Dir.), Umair Aleem (Writer), Lyle Vincent (Cinematography)
Kate is a powerfully directed film, and a number of the shots and the coloring are exceptional. In this sense, it creates a certain aesthetic that gives it a Drive (2011) and art-house flair and works well for the action-thriller genre. Richard Roeper sums it up best:
“So, yes: Kate is John Wick meets Die Hard meets Collateral meets Kill Bill all the Volumes and we’ve seen it all before and you’re not going to get much in the way of original plot, but what you WILL get is a grindhouse of a good time with some bleak and wickedly sharp humor, screen-popping visuals and some pretty great fight choreography.”
(( Roeper, Richard. “‘Kate’ Review: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Slays in the Year’s Third over-the-Top Female Assassin Movie.” Chicago Sun-Times, September 9, 2021. )).
There is nothing more visually stunning than the wide shot of Kate in front of the refrigerator as she slams the steak against her cheek. There are several montages of Tokyo that I particularly like. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan has a remarkable ability to create action sequences. This is a grueling, ass-kicking masterpiece. This is a collection of spinning, moving takes that I thought were of excellent quality. In this particular action-thriller genre, the use of directing truly sets it apart, and Cedric Nicolas-Troyan made this stale premise feel fresh. The directorial work is one of the reasons to stay; in particular, the scene in the taxi, in which Kate and Ani are seen from a wide-angle, is one of the highlights.
In this emotionally and vulnerable sequence, the emphasis placed on Ani and Kate is a brilliant use of intensity. It was a stunningly good shot, and it will stay with me for a long time. There is an element of sacrifice underlying each take. I enjoyed the gruesome scenes, and it kept the narrative engaging. Score-wise, the film features a variety of Korean/Japanese pop tunes that would, at the very least, be familiar to most audiences. The overall mise-en-scene is amazing, and the fighting sequences are executed and shot superbly; the gruesome elements of Kate are what make it stand out. The reason I stayed was for those moments when Kate would throw major punches, and I would not have to worry about underdeveloped character development.
Is Netflix’s Kate (2021) The Next Best Feminist Film?
Kate (2021) has a strong female power that I admire. A perfect transgression exists between Gone Girl (2014) and Jennifer’s Body (2009). Throughout the film, Kate gradually cuts her hair shorter and shorter in a symbolic representation of her past, her present, and her grief. By the film’s end, she is truly free. For that reason alone, this film has contributed significantly to the genre of feminist films or films with powerful female lead characters. It was great to see girls kicking major asses on screen and simultaneously having some diversity.
Despite this film’s lack of diversity — or perhaps the fact that it should have been more diverse to some — it remains a good attempt at saturating the genre and making it kind of fun. Ani’s addition to the film was noteworthy as it added a youthful and vibrant character to look forward to for the remainder of the film. Moreover, it was a character who would not perish and could appear in other forthcoming films.
Stream It Or Skip It?
I agree with Leah Greenblatt when stating,
“Aside from a brief interlude at a hotel bar (with The Flight Attendant‘s Michiel Huisman) and a few twitchy impulses of maternal feeling, Winstead’s Kate is too tough, and then too far gone, to really develop much of a relationship with the audience aside from a few wry, biting one-liners; she’s come to kill, or die trying.”
(( Leah Greenblatt, “Kate Review: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Leads Netflix’s Red-Meat Female Assassin Thriller,” EW.Com, September 9, 2021. )).
Stream this action-thriller if you enjoy the genre. The second half/third act picks up quite a bit, although it is a slow start. This is the kind of film you need if you seek a film full of action and little character development.