“Bastille Day” (also known as “The Take”) is a 2016 action-thriller film directed by James Watkins and starring Idris Elba and Richard Madden. The film follows a former CIA agent named Sean Briar (Elba) who teams up with a pickpocket named Michael Mason (Madden) to track down a group of terrorists responsible for a bombing in Paris on Bastille Day.
Synopsis:
“Bastille Day” opens with Michael Mason, a pickpocket, stealing a bag from a woman in Paris. Unbeknownst to him, the bag contains a bomb that detonates shortly after he drops it off at a busy street corner. Mason is caught on CCTV, and the police quickly identify him as the bomber, but Briar is not convinced. He believes that Mason was set up and is being used as a scapegoat by the real terrorists.
Briar sets out to clear Mason’s name and track down the real culprits. As the two men work together, they discover a larger conspiracy involving corrupt government officials and police officers. The action ramps up as Briar and Mason fight to stop the terrorists before they can strike again.
Review:
“Bastille Day” received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film’s action sequences and the chemistry between Elba and Madden, while others criticized the plot as being overly convoluted and cliché. The film was also criticized for its portrayal of French culture and its depiction of the police force in Paris.
Awards:
“Bastille Day” did not receive any major awards or nominations.
Overall, “Bastille Day” is an entertaining action-thriller that showcases the talents of its lead actors. While the plot may be predictable, the film’s fast-paced action and suspenseful set pieces make for an enjoyable ride.
Directed by | James Watkins, |
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Written by | Andrew Baldwin James Watkins |
Produced by | Bard Dorros Fabrice Gianfermi Steve Golin David Kanter Philippe Rousselet |
Starring | Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Eriq Ebouaney, José Garcia, |
Cinematography | Tim Maurice-Jones |
Edited by | Jon Harris |
Music by | Alex Heffes |
Production companies |
Anonymous Content Vendôme Pictures StudioCanal TF1 Films Production |
Distributed by | StudioCanal (France, Luxembourg) High Top Releasing (United States) |
Release dates | 22 April 2016 (United Kingdom) 13 July 2016 (France) 18 November 2016 (United States) |
Running time | 92 minutes |
Countries | Luxembourg France United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $4 million |
Box office | $14.9 million |