Ava (2020)

A former drug addict and ex-soldier (Jessica Chastain) is working as an international assassin for hire. When a hit goes wrong, she begins to suspect that she is being set up. Directed by Tate Taylor (THE HELP), this action thriller is uneven. I can see why Chastain (who's one of the film's producers) would be attracted to a role like this. She gets to be both an action hero yet exercise her acting chops as a recovering addict with a dark past. The film's plot is often incoherent and doesn't make sense but who goes to a movie like this for a concise narrative? You want action and on this aspect, the film delivers spectacularly. It's the dramatic element where the movie fumbles. The portion dealing with Chastain and her unresolved issues with her mother (Geena Davis, inspired casting as she and Chastain are cut from the same cloth) works quite well but the subplot involving an ex-lover (Common) and her sister (Jess Weixler) only hinders the story. Chastain is terrific even if the script lets her down. The final showdown between Chastain and Colin Farrell is ludicrous. With John Malkovich, Joan Chen, Diana Silvers, Ioan Gruffudd and Christopher J. Domig.