He’s definitely a standout. Wanted draws inspiration from Mark Millar’s comic book miniseries of the same name. Timur Bekmambetov directs, and the cast includes James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann, Common, Terence Stamp, and Konstantin Khabensky. The film centers on Wesley Gibson (McAvoy), an unhappy office worker who learns he’s the son of a professional assassin when Fox (Jolie) saves him from an assassination attempt in a supermarket. Initially overwhelmed, he encounters the clandestine "Fraternity," led by Sloan (Freeman), and begins training to fulfill his destiny as one of their assassins. A highlight of many action films is seeing an underdog rise to the occasion and unleash some fury. Whether it’s superheroes or ordinary people discovering hidden abilities, watching someone previously meek become tough usually works well. Wanted, Timur Bekmambetov's U.S. directorial debut, follows this formula. It’s not just that McAvoy’s anxious office worker gets to use guns, drive fast cars, and spend time with a sleek Angelina Jolie—it’s that he, thanks to certain circumstances, is freed from any moral qualms about killing. The film isn't as dark as the comic book it's based on, but it retains its core elements of corruption and violence. The story, however outlandish, is streamlined into an account of ancient weavers sending messages depicting targets who are eliminated for what’s deemed humanity’s greater good. This "Fraternity" operates in modern times, ostensibly doing good by taking out these individuals. However, it's not as simple as aiming through a telescope and firing; the process involves much more creativity. For action movies released this decade, Wanted is hard to beat. From Gibson’s intense training regimen to the numerous explosive and inventive set pieces, the film delivers thrilling cinema. There are wild car chases, gravity-defying jumps with crashes and bangs, speeding trains full of stunts, a train crash sequence that rivals anything else in action movies, and then there are the bullets. Bullets curve, collide with each other, or inflict serious damage to unsuspecting targets’ foreheads. The filmmakers' decision to avoid a PG-13 rating is a clear advantage, allowing them to fully showcase the fights and bloodshed, even those with humorous and inventive twists. Bekmambetov seems to be enjoying himself immensely, and the film provides ample opportunity for his rapid editing and slow-motion sequences, while the booming sound pulls viewers deeper into the action. McAvoy excels in this action role, shifting between charming vulnerability and outright menace; he clearly enjoys carrying a movie with such adrenaline-fueled intensity. Jolie also delivers a strong performance, portraying Fox as a charismatic action heroine—a significant departure from her Lara Croft roles. Freeman, predictably, does what he does best: projecting an air of authority and understated elegance. It’s been eleven years since John Woo's Face/Off offered this much fun and excitement to the action genre. The film’s pacing isn’t flawless, and some scenes may strike overly critical viewers as too absurd (though they should recognize the playful tone), but regardless, Wanted has raised the bar for action films. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another eleven years for something similar. 9/10

Source on TMDB