One has to give credit to Martin Campbell where it is due in shooting Maggie Q in a manner that pulls the illusion of her doing most of her own stunts proficiently. Not only is she ethereal when she wants to be, I felt that she did fairly well in selling the rather physical aspects of the character of Anna convincingly. I feel that she along with Gong Li are two of the most beautiful and proficient Asian-origin actresses working in Hollywood today. Maggie Q is grossly overlooked when it comes to Hollywood characters. Soon the audience is enveloped in their charming chemistry and is more interested to learn what happens of the odd relationship of the two than whether or not Anna is able to finish the task at hand of avenging Moody. Keaton always has the right things to say to Maggie Q‘s character and she in turn always has the best replies. In every single one of those situations, the sexually charged banter between the two grabs your attention as if it was the best part of the film. Michael Keaton plays Rembrandt, a charismatic man en-tasked with protecting one of the primary targets of Anna and keeps running into her under different circumstances. It has performances from Michael Keaton and Maggie Q that feel just too good to be a part of a film like this and make you remember the film for much longer than it deserves to be remembered for. Films like these follow a predetermined path, have nearly the same major twists and turn, and are generally entertaining when efficiently directed if not worthy of remembrance beyond 48 hours of viewing. The Protégé is no different except for one count. Hollywood makes a film The Protégé at least once or twice a year. Why was Moody killed? Who are the people trying so desperately to kill her and the rest of the gang and why? Will Anna be able to destroy the gang and avenge the death of Moody? These are just some of the questions that drive the narrative of the film. Moody’s death robs her of the last family that she had and makes her go all guns blazing against the men who carried out the hit. Moody is brutally murdered along with most of the other associates of Anna who she valued emotionally. Shockingly, her effort to dig out this elusive figure brings down the wrath of an unseen and unheard off enemy on her and Moody. She is asked only to trace down the man and do nothing more. One day, Moody asks Anna to dig around and find out whatever she can about a certain Lucas Hayes. The two spend years doing hits together and using the money to sponsor a lavish and comfortable life. Moody fine-tunes and ups Anna’s already heightened thirst for macabre and violence and turns her into one of the world’s most sought-after assassins. Jacksonĭisposable entertainment that has stellar performances from Maggie Q and Michael Keaton that proves to be better than the film - Ambar ChatterjeeĪnna (Maggie Q), a Vietnamese victim of war violence is rescued by Moody (Samuel L. Cast: Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L.Maggie Q and Michael Keaton in a still from The Protégé