Banger Review: In this Netflix film, a has-been DJ gets sucked into the life of his “dreams” when cops recruit him to bring down his rival who has ties to a dangerous gang.
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Banger Movie Director
Bertrand de Langeron
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Banger Netflix Cast
Vincent Cassel, Laura Felpin, Mister V, Alexis Manenti, Nina Zem, Déborah Lukumuena, Nicolas Maury, Philippe Katerine, Paul Mirabel, Tom Dingler
The film has a runtime of 90 minutes.
Banger Review
In this French film, Vincent Cassel’s quirkiness forms the basis of an entertaining action-thriller with techno beats blasting in the background. The action, though, starts a bit too late, and by then, the eccentricity feels just a bit boring. That being said, Banger is quite entertaining despite the annoying bits and will leave you amused.
The film follows Scorpex, who is still stuck in his short-lived glory days when he would leave everyone mesmerised with his hypnotic beats. As things got more and more mellow, he is now recognised by no one, but he refuses to accept defeat. In a shocking turn of events, though, he is asked to befriend and take down a younger rival, which might just give him the push that he needs to push himself and see things for what they are.
Scorpex’s thoughts and emotions make the most of this movie. His desperation to be seen and recognised for his works makes it an interesting watch. On one hand, he has a job to do, but on the other, this world is something he wants to get into once again. It’s this duality of his character that makes him a great protagonist, albeit a bit pathetic. Vincent Cassel is fantastic as per usual, and his brooding, desperate and pathetic character mixes well with his eccentric surroundings.
Mister V is Vestax, the new-age rival to Scorpex, who reminds him of who he could’ve been. He’s constantly jealous of Vestax’s achievements, but somewhere feels drawn to him as well. Their collaborations are some of the funniest moments in the film. Mister V is quite entertaining himself and is the craziest of the two!
However, it’s the crime part of this story that really misses the mark. There’s no thrill or anticipation to be found anywhere. The music is always killer, and it’s very funny and uncomfortable most of the runtime, but that’s about it. It doesn’t get your heart racing, nor does it make you feel scared for the protagonist. You know Cassel is going to be fine because of plot armour. Plus, a lot of the runtime is just conversations that take away the building thrill and make things flat. However, the charming and eccentric nature of the characters and the film make up for the lack of thrill and turn it into something extremely funny. It’s not about the thrill of the chase but rather Cassel’s journey
Of course, the ending is when everything comes together, and viewers might find the redemption that they have been looking for. The light-hearted nature of the film makes it all the more enjoyable if you don’t expect it to be a breathtaking ordeal, leaving you bopping by the end of the runtime.
Final Thoughts
It’s not every day that I am charmed by a thriller that is more comedy than thriller. This absurdist comedy is a must-watch for everyone who loves something crazy, but it’s a shame that nothing really happens on the criminal front. Oh well.
Also Read: The Bondsman Review: Quirky, Fun and Thoroughly Bingeable