Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
When a retiring assassin realizes that he is the target of a hit, he winds up back in the game going head to head with a gang of younger, ruthless killers.
Polar is a hyper-stylized neo-noir action film based on a graphic novel, but it struggles to translate its source material effectively. The plot is a fairly standard hitman-forced-back-into-action premise with little depth or originality. Mads Mikkelsen does his best with the material but is surrounded by cartoonishly over-the-top performances that feel more grating than entertaining. The cinematography has moments of visual flair — bold colors and graphic novel-esque composition — which is its strongest suit. However, the film's novelty is limited; it tries to ape John Wick's stylish action formula without the choreographic precision or tonal consistency. The ending is underwhelming and predictable, failing to capitalize on the setup.