Project Power is available to stream globally now on Netflix.
Synopsis
On the streets of New Orleans, word begins to spread about a mysterious new pill that unlocks superpowers unique to each user. The catch: You don’t know what will happen until you take it. While some develop bulletproof skin, invisibility, and super strength, others exhibit a deadlier reaction. But when the pill escalates crime within the city to dangerous levels, a local cop (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) teams with a teenage dealer (Dominique Fishback) and a former soldier fueled by a secret vendetta (Jamie Foxx) to fight power with power and risk taking the pill in order to track down and stop the group responsible for creating it.
Review
What if you could take a pill which would give you superpowers? Would you take it? The caveat being that you will only have those powers for five minutes and you won’t know what powers you have until you take the pill.
Those questions are at the core of Netflix’s Project Power which is available to stream from today.
The film takes a unique look at the idea of super powers, setting the film in what is essentially a twenty-four hour window as Art (Foxx) and Frank (Levitt) find themselves circling each other and the world of underground drug smuggling in New Orleans.
Project Power is an interesting mix of an urban, street level drug movie and a character exploration of ordinary people gifted with extraordinary powers. The two genres mix together well creating the kind of gritty aesthetic which so often falls flat in big screen comic book movies (see Punisher).
The movie succeeds with its excellent casting. Foxx and Levitt make for a great team as the leads. The two start the film in very different places with Levitt’s Frank working undercover with the police and Foxx very much involved in the underground movement of “Power.”
There’s an inevitability to both character’s journeys which does feel predictable. Though there are a number of twists and turns in Mattson Tomlin’s script which helps Project Power to feel fresh.
Foxx’s ex-solder, Art, allows the film to explore some serious subtext about the power struggle within America society. The film also does its best to tackle racial stereotyping and mistreatment. Bringing in Levitt’s Frank to pile on some corrupt law enforcement just to add to the mix.
Supporting cast member Dominique Fishback also puts in an excellent performance as Robin. At times her character feels like a mix of generic stereotypes. But Fishback knocks it out of the park with her performance making it a compelling watch.
Project Power lets itself down with the lack of strong villain. There are a number of figures within the world of Power’s distribution. But none that is strong enough to hold the role of antagonist amidst the chaos.
Given Foxx and Levitt’s characters a hate figure to fight against would have strengthened the overall narrative. Instead their mission, whilst meaningful, feels a little futile and generic. Underneath the superpowers Project Power is really enough repeat of authorities dismantling a drug ring.
The hook lies very much within the representation of super powers throughout the film. Though there’s little we haven’t seen before, Project Power takes unusual inspiration from the animal kingdom. There are also serious consequences to using the drug on its consumers.
Tomlin’s script features some truly unique viewpoints on the idea of superpowers. But the world and the characters feel not quite developed enough to allow for Project Power to meet its full potential.
From a production standpoint the VFX and fight choreography are excellent. The film features a number of great action set pieces from hand-to-hand street combat up to the final battle on a container ship. The array of powers on show all the VFX team to have some fun with the visuals and it translates well on the screen.
Verdict
Project Power is a fun, if predictable, exploration of super powers.
6/10
Project Power is directed by Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman and stars Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback, Rodrigo Santoro, Colson Baker, Allen Maldonado, with Amy Landecker, and Courtney B. Vance.
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