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Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Liam Cunningham, Brendan Gleeson ... see more see more... , Sam Shepard , Ruben Blades , Fares Fares , Nora Arnezeder , Robert Patrick , Joel Kinnaman , Jena Dover , Stephen Rider , Daniel Fox , Tracie Thoms , Sara Arrington , Kenneth Fok , Bryan Van Niekerk , Nicole Sherwin , Pope Jerrod , Allen Irwin , Jake McLaughlin , Aidan Bennetts , Vernon Willemse , Traian Milenov , Dumani Mtya , Thembaletu Tyutu , Oliver Bailey , Roy Taylor , Boris Martinez , Stephen Bishop , Scott Sparrow , Justin Shaw , Fana Mokena , Jody J. Abrahams , Dirk Stoltz , Craig Palm , Craig Hawks , Tyrone Dadd , Tilly Powell , Lynita Crofford , Tanit Phoenix , Abdul Ntotera , Ayabonga Mtekeli , Nambitha Mpumlwana , Lelethu Nongalaza , Namhla Tshuka , Simphiwe Mabuya , Louis Gouws , Jerry Mofokeng , Robert Hobbs , John C. King , Bruce Young , Aidan Whytock , Geon Nel

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-thriller Safe House. Washington plays the most dangerous renegade from the CIA, who comes back onto the grid after a decade on the run. When the ... read more read more...South African safe house he's remanded to is attacked by mercenaries, a rookie operative (Reynolds) escapes with him. Now, the unlikely allies must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. -- (C) Official Site

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69% liked it

87,867 ratings

Critics

54% liked it

168 critics

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa

Release Date: February 10, 2012

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DVD Release Date: June 5, 2012

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Stats: 4,344 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,344)

  • stuartb1234
    May 25, 2012
    stuartb1234
    2 normally decent actors converge in 2 roles that clearly don't suit them at all. The film is a very poor CIA conspiracy thriller, that just isn't very thrilling. The best thing about it where some very nice views of Cape Town. The film is sh*t!
  • hobster1
    May 9, 2012
    hobster1
    Safe House is a mixed bag. The film takes place in Cape Town, South Africa and the production was actually shot there. That's favorable. It boasts a solid cast. Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star, but it also showcases supporting players that include Vera Farmiga, Brendan G... read moreleeson, Sam Shepard, Rubén Blades and Robert Patrick. It's a pity none of them were given a character they could really sink their acting chops into. These are stock characters in stock situations. I greeted the whole affair with a casual indifference. While it played out I admit I was mildly entertained. The actors kept giving me hope that something exciting would happen or develop. But when the story was finished, the plot revealed itself to be thoroughly generic. There are several scenes in which a gun goes off when you're not expecting it to happen. The sound was so loud I jumped out of my seat at least twice because it sounded like a gun went off in the theater. Other than that, I can barely remember anything about this film.
  • aquateen2
    April 2, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    In his newest action conspiracy thriller, like in a majority of his films, Denzel Washington performs strong and does it convincingly and effectively. But the bigest surprise in Safe House is how well ex... read moreecuted Ryan Reynolds brings life to his cliched character. He's now redeemed himself after agreeing to do the terrible Green Lantern. The film as a whole has decent action sequences and the developed characters are present. Safe House overall isn't anything that hasn't been done before but it's very entertaining and is the action flick that it wants to be, except with better acting than your average action vehicle.
  • fb1038944442
    March 29, 2012
    fb1038944442
    Safe House is action packed and intense, but predictatable as hell. It benefits from the megawatt charisma of Denzel Washington, but it's a paint by numbers CIA corruption story, and suffers from a typically competent but featherweight performance by the luckiest man in Hollywood... read more, Ryan Reynolds. This film is like a CIA Training Day, with Reynolds in the Ethan Hawke role, and Denzel reprising the grizzled, disllusioned old pro. However, Hawke is a vastly more interesting actor and that was a much more interesting script.

    The almost constant hand held and close up filmmaking style is somewhat fresh, but young director Daniel Espinoza does not seem to know when to keep the camera still and let us see faces and feel emotions.

    Denzel is a rogue CIA agent with super powers (think Jack Bauer in 24 with no friends) who is being chased by the CIA and a mysterious omipotent paramilitary army. Reynolds is a junior CIA guy who is babysitting a 'Safe House' in Capetown South Africa, and getting no spy action at all, much to his frustation. His boss in HQ Langley, Virginia is beloved Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, who gets do some acting aided the wonderful Vera Farmiga, who is wasted here. Oh, the CIA is a corrupt snake pit, did you know that?

    I was interested to see South Africa explored as a location, we don't see it in many flicks, but alas, Espinoza's camera is not interested in location, just in gun fights and car crashes. Safe House could have been shot anywhere.

    There are many illogical plot twists and turns, and Denzel chooses to let Ryan Reynolds live numerous times for no good reason, other than to keep the movie running to its full 2 hour length.

    I was mostly entertained by the action and Denzel, but it's a total time waster perhaps best ordered on demand on a rainy Sunday.
  • fb535316333
    March 28, 2012
    fb535316333
    I'm not incredibly well versed with the spy/espionage genre but even I wasn't very surprised or taken by the film's painfully obvious story. There wasn't much dimension built on top of the formula either!

    I mean, a little halfway through the film and there was still no plot deve... read morelopment whatsoever, just unimaginative chase scenes following the next. When things finally start rolling you've pretty much guessed right off the bat who the players are and their motives leaving very little suspense or drama.

    In the grand scheme of things, it's a well-acted action film but with a terribly predictable plot, boring set pieces, poorly prioritized pacing and two dimensional characters with no chemistry.
  • scottgreen96
    March 24, 2012
    scottgreen96
    I suppose this doesn't help us in deciding whether Ryan is set for the action side of films, or the comedy side, or even both? Denzel doesn't seem to have any emotion but that's why he is seen as one of the best, because he is able to maintain that.
  • allan913
    March 3, 2012
    allan913
    This is the real deal. An exhilerating and adrenaline-charged edge of your seat action-packed thriller. It explodes with pure star power as well as fire power and has lots of brute energy that will keep you hooked. An awesome and spectacular action film that both tough and intell... read moreigent. It`s gripping, stylish, fast-paced and utterly breathtaking. It`s 16 Blocks meets Bourne on steroids. A wickedly entertaining and pulse-pounding thrill-machine that never lets up for a minute. It`s packed with non-stop explosive action and heart-pounding suspense all the way to the end. The all-star cast is first-rate and they deliver with pure power. Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds are at their very best. Washington is lean, charasmatic and truly brilliant mixing his action hero chops with his dramatic capability and totally owning the screen. Reynolds is terrific, he continues to impress with his much more edgy acting style and managing to prove worthy to stand present with his respected co-star. Even with all the chaos and twist, Washington and Reynolds manage to stand tall and put some meat on their characters. A pure high-octane cocktail of electrifying movie entertainment. It`s well-crafted and solidly character drawn.
  • fb729949618
    March 2, 2012
    fb729949618
    Descent. Not too bad, but not too good. I've seen Denzel is far better roles and in better films. I think that Ryan Reynolds should have been replaced with someone more uptempo, then the movie definitely would have been better in my opinion.
  • thmtsang
    March 1, 2012
    thmtsang
    Violent from the start. Really in your face action. Good cast. A turned CIA agent is chased out of the Safe House. The housekeeper has to bring him to another Safe House.
  • katykern8261
    February 19, 2012
    katykern8261
    Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Universal Pictures, 2012

    Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Robert Patrick, Sam Shepard, Liam Cunningham and Brendan Gleeson.

    Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery.

    Question: Do you like action packed movies?

    Well, Safe Hous... read moree might be the exact movie for you. However, there wasn't much more to the film, which was a disappointment since it stars one of our greatest actors, Denzel Washington, and a decent actor on his own right, Ryan Reynolds.

    I know, I know. This review cuts to the bone a little bit, but I found myself sitting in the full theatre on opening day confused. Not with the number of people in the theatre but why such a predictable story-line was produced with some top-notch actors. And let me put it this way - one person left after about twenty minutes and four people left with about ten minutes to go in the film. I have never walked out of a movie, turned one off but never walked out.

    Back to my question: Do you like action packed movies? Well, if you do, and can put aside the predictable story, then I say watch Safe House because it is nearly non-stop action. I am not accustom to watching Mr. Washington in such a physical role, and he did a decent job as a rouge CIA agent on the run, but I suppose I prefer his more cerebral roles. He can manipulate anyone and their actions usually with his words or facial expressions; and he had some of that in Safe House. However, most of the film was filled with car chases, men beating the crap out of one another and gun fights.

    Now there is nothing wrong with a movie loaded with non-stop action sequences, do not misunderstand, but the Safe House preview displayed a different movie in my mind. I thought it would have more depth. Once the film started it was sort of obvious, though, that either the film-maker was inexperienced or perhaps they wanted to make the film in a Jason Bourne-style. One thing wrong with that is that Jason Bourne is an interesting, complex character that you want to know more about; however, neither the rouge CIA agent (Washington) or the CIA agent manning the safe house (Reynolds) were not developed enough to care about.

    With all that said, the acting was still pretty good. Seriously, did you think you would ever read that Denzel Washington did a bad job? He simply cannot, unfortunately, the script was just not up to his acting caliber. Shame.

    My favorite thing: Let me think on that for a bit....oh wait, there was a scene where Denzel Washington's character walks across the hallway and what he did and how he did it made me grin. It's brief but I wasn't expecting it.

    My least favorite thing: That the person behind me was overly vocal when all the actions scenes went on. Annoying.

    Rating: R
    Length: 115 minutes

    Review: 3 out of 10

View All Safe House Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
March 23, 2012
Roger Moore, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The photography and editing are state-of-the-Bourne-art exciting - breathless chases, brutal, blurry fights and unnerving shootouts. Full Review

Bruce Diones
February 26, 2012
Bruce Diones, New Yorker

The film's super-saturated look and quick cutting are mere substitutes for any real sense of intrigue. Full Review

Rex Reed
February 14, 2012
Rex Reed, New York Observer

This is a naive director with so little insight you wonder what comic books he's been reading. Full Review

Colin Covert
February 13, 2012
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

I won't deny that the movie hooked me with sheer brute energy and dragged me along with it most of the way. Full Review

Richard Roeper
February 10, 2012
Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com

Nothing really new here, but the cast is first-rate. Full Review

Rafer Guzman
February 10, 2012
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"Safe House" has just enough bone density to emit some satisfying cracks and pops whenever the action gets going. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
February 10, 2012
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Whatever its flaws, the film gives you no chance to get bored. Full Review

Tom Long
February 10, 2012
Tom Long, Detroit News

"Safe House" is a safe bet if you're in the market for a conspiracy-driven action drama. There are times you wish it wasn't quite so safe, but it does deliver the bang for your bucks. Full Review

John DeFore
February 10, 2012
John DeFore, Washington Post

As fun as the movie occasionally is, it can't make its own drama convincing, much less give Reynolds the nudge he needs toward Matt Damon-ville. Full Review

Kyle Smith
February 10, 2012
Kyle Smith, New York Post

"Safe House" may strike you as a brilliant movie, provided you've seen fewer than, say, 10 spy thrillers. I've seen more than 10 spy thrillers. Full Review

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