Black Adam (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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© 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written by: Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, Bodhi Sabongui, Pierce Brosnan
Runtime: 124 min
Synopsis: Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods - and imprisoned just as quickly - Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
© 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Like most viewers, I don't know anything about the original comics of most superheroes that occupy our theaters nowadays. Whether it's DC, Marvel, or another studio, the respective genre is, without a doubt, the one that brings the largest audiences to the big screen, and it's not hard to understand why. As a fan of this type of film, I'm always more excited when it comes to meeting a new protagonist who I'm unfamiliar with. The marketing campaign surrounding Black Adam promised a movie that would forever change the DCEU power hierarchy, as well as leave a lasting impact on the genre itself... Did it?
Yes and no. Black Adam indeed introduces a superhero who is perfectly capable of fighting anyone presented in this cinematic universe so far. However, the film cannot overcome the formulaic barriers surrounding its screenplay. From the narrative structure to the story itself, none of the three screenwriters brings enough originality or imagination to escape the genre's conventionalisms. In addition to being predictable and simply generic, all the essential information is conveyed through exposition-heavy scenes during the entire runtime - be it flashbacks, narration, or forced dialogue.
No matter how obvious or important, Black Adam delivers revelations so monotonously that it takes away any impact associated with them. The protagonist Black Adam isn't a traditional hero. Dwayne Johnson embodies his character's terrifying, rage-driven persona, adding the movie's central, most interesting theme to the narrative. The moral and ethical rules of a modern superhero don't fit with the more aggressive, assertive behavior of Adam, resulting in genuinely fascinating conversations with Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) and Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan).
© 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Too bad Jaume Collet-Serra finds himself torn between two different types of film. On one hand, Black Adam is a dark movie focused on an intense debate between "good" and "evil", between being merciful or unforgiving, between "justice" and "fate". On the other hand, moments of humor break the darker tone of the general film and of the protagonist, who presents himself as someone fearsome and to be taken seriously. Comedy "à la Marvel" doesn't really work in the atmosphere built for this movie, and DC seems to have problems understanding which films actually work with this type of humor.
Honestly, the explanation isn't very complicated. Despite being someone who starts getting increasingly tired of "Marvel-esque" comedy, most of the MCU's installments are predisposed to receive that lighter environment. From the bright color palette to the fun personalities of the heroes, without forgetting the lighthearted tone with which they approach more sensitive topics, Marvel built its universe that way. Black Adam shouldn't even try to be witty because its protagonist isn't "joking around". It's almost cringy to observe a character trying to throw jokes out of nowhere when Adam finds himself processing his moral dilemmas.
This creates a jarring sensation where the viewer doesn't know how to react to Black Adam's discordant tone. However, the cast manages to salvage a good part of the clumsy script. As noted above, Hodge, Brosnan, and Johnson's characters have interesting conversations about how each uses his powers and how the "bad guys" should be treated. Johnson is an absolute badass - his physical presence is a significant factor - Hodge is an excellent counterpart, but it's Brosnan who surprises and steals the spotlight with an incredibly absorbing performance. Quintessa Swindell stands out from the rest with striking charisma.
© 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
When it comes to popcorn entertainment, the movie delivers several action scenes packed with energy and powerful sound design. The combat itself isn't amazing - excessive use of CGI and slow-motion - but when all aspects seem to be in sync - choreography, visual effects, score, camera work, editing - Black Adam shines and delivers a couple of memorable sequences. Lorne Balfe's music completely transforms the most impactful moments, being the only technical element I can genuinely define as "epic" and "chill-inducing".
One last word for the marketing department. Black Adam is one of the most publicized films in recent years - Johnson also played his part - but it becomes dangerous to "sell" such generic content as something "never seen before". High expectations more easily lead to misleading disappointments, that is, perfectly decent works suffer with public opinion more than they deserve precisely because of the intense marketing that raised too much the levels of anticipation for the movie. Adding a trailer that spoils the sole - and quite effective - narrative twist only creates even more conditions to disappoint countless viewers.
© 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Final Thoughts
Black Adam is far from impressive, being somewhat disappointing due to its formulaic, predictable screenplay when something different was anticipated. Lorne Balfe's epic score and a magnificent cast - Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, and most remarkably Pierce Brosnan are phenomenal - try to elevate the decent action and visuals, but the moderate entertainment levels don't make up for the dated narrative structure. Tiresomely heavy exposition, story with little to no creativity, and inconsistent humor make it impossible for the DCEU to take "the next step" in a truly impactful manner.
