Watching the Wu tang clan give an interview the other night I was struck by the comparison one rapper drew between rapping and being an athlete. He talked about growth, mindset, the ebbs and flows of business, but he neglected to talk about the athletes dilemma: eventually you get old, warn out, and replaced. From the opening scenes of Lucy I recognized Luc Besson is done and there is nothing more he can make of value.
For those unfamiliar with his work, Luc Besson brought us Leon The Professional, the film that launched Natalie Portman’s career (IMHO). He is also known for Taken, The Fifth Element, Arthur and the Invisibles, La Femme Nikita (including both TV series), The Messenger, District B13, even the Transporter (the first one was legit). What you may not know is that he is also the writer/creator of Taxi Brooklyn, which is further proof of his decline. Lucy gives us proof enough. This longer than needed, highly contrived, mess of a movie is held together by the powerful narration provided by Morgan Freeman. Had he been the entire movie, it may have been a better experience. At points throughout you could see Scarlett Johansson struggling to make more of her character than what is on paper. I mean he straight up didn’t even try to write a character of worth. That’s the problem: He no longer has it within himself to create good, new, content. He is forced to dredge up and recycle old ideas with the hopes on riding out those once important characters like a literary pension. Not convinced? Here is proof: Taxi Brooklyn is a freshened up version of the movie he made in 1998. Still not convinced? Taken 3 is in post production and The Transporter 6 has already been announced.
We get old and, at some point, we lose the fire and or ability to produce good work. Luc is there. Lucy is proof of that. I’m glad to have seen the film. It served as a funeral of sorts for a career I’ve followed my entire movie-watching life. I’m sorry Luc Besson is gone, but seeing that makes it easier to forget that he is still around.