The CIA and Paris.. What's up with that? Jason Bourne had an apartment there, Bryan Mills lost his daughter there, Ethan Renner has his "last" mission and Charlie Wax made one big mess. Okay, sure, those last three were from the mind of Luc Besson, probably just representing his hometown. Taking that habit in mind it's a wonder why this movie has nothing to do with Besson. This film is staying true to it's formula for action-thrillers situated in Paris, which are equally as easy to view, and forget. Complete with an overqualified actor to fill the main role.

The latter being Idris Elba, who has been working hard on paving his own way, but has not quite yet made it to the Hollywood A-listers. Critics love him, the audience loves him, but he's still waiting on the absolute star status he deserves, as a movie star. Bastille Day shows that is in reach, however. Not because it is such a thunderous film (on the contrary), but because it's carried solely by Elba's starpower. The marketing for this movie alone shows that. Everywhere is Idris. Everywhere is Elba. But wait, we also have co-star Richard Madden, most famous for his role as one of the Stark's in one of the biggest TV Shows ever; Game of Thrones, whose role is practically the same size (or maybe even bigger) than Elba, but he's shunned into the back in most of it.

[spoiler] Madden plays an American who in Paris earning money through his excellent skill in pickpocketing, he's so good that when the CIA eventually has him in holding, he can hardly convince them that his crimes are much more innocent; he's completely unknown to the authorities (in France). The suspicion is solely based on him stealing the wrong bag; one that apparently contains only worthless items, but then explodes and causes casualities. Althought the CIA Agent interpreted by Elba does not take it so closeley with the rules (that's how we get to hear in an explanatory dialogue), he understand the ins and outs of the matter quickly enough. After which he goes to work with Madden to track those truelly responsible. [/spoiler]

Bastille day came out on the heels of a terrorist attack in Paris, still healing. Often films that have been overtaken by current events in this way are delayed, to spare vulnerable souls. This time that didn't happen, and the reason seems pretty clear; the film simply has too little to do with the reality of being able to hit people where it hurts. Terrorism here is simply a simple element to start the plot. For the form there is some fiddling with the tension between police forces and rebellious citizens, and how far-right politicians spin yarn in such unrest.

In the end Bastille Day unfortunaly has very little ti say about all these important subjects. What remains is a reasonably entertaining action flick which is lifted up a but by the charm of Idris Elba, but that unfortunaly doesn't help the fact that this movie is filled with a too well-known plot and wo-dimensional characters.

It's little innovative, only interesting because of Elba.
5,8/10