The big picture
- Former wrestling stars like John Cena have successfully transitioned into prominent film roles, proving their versatility in comedy and drama.
- The film by director Doug Liman
The wall
subverts expectations of traditional war films by focusing on intimate, tense interactions rather than epic battles. - John Cena’s appearance in
The wall
shows his ability to portray vulnerability and depth, and hints at his potential for a more serious acting career.
It is not the least bit surprising that many former wrestling stars who rose to fame thanks to World Wrestling Entertainment’s live events went on to become prominent movie stars. Wrestling is not so much a sport as it is a form of performing art, as those involved must spend years carefully crafting characters that fit into established storylines. Many wrestlers have enjoyed lampooning themselves with more comedic roles, and John Cena is certainly one of them; his hilarious performances in comedies such as Ricky Stanicky And Blockers show that he is more than aware of the ironic fan base his wrestling persona is aiming for. As funny as it is to see someone who is known for being intimidating but can laugh at his own ridiculousness, Cena proved in the underrated war thriller that he can deliver a captivating dramatic performance The wall.
The wall comes from the director Doug Liman whose films are often a hit or a failure. While Liman is responsible for such disastrously planned blockbusters as jumper And Chaos Walkinghe is also more than capable of using a limited budget to his advantage, as can be seen in Swingers And Go. Liman is also unique in giving movie stars the chance to flex their action muscles; The Bourne Identity rotated Matt Damon the coolest vigilante hero of a generation and Edge of Tomorrow infiltrated Tom Cruise‘s fame by allowing him to play a coward. Liman also gave Cena a unique role in The wall which challenged him to show his sensitive, empathetic side.
What is “The Wall” about?
Set in the midst of the Iraq war, The wall revolves around two US Army soldiers who are pinned down in the middle of the desert by enemy fire. Staff Sergeant Shane Matthews (Cena) works as a sniper to track down the enemy’s whereabouts, along with his long-time friend Sergeant Allen Isaac (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as his scout. The two expect a relatively boring mission in which they will observe minimal activity for hours, but are shocked when they discover that their mysterious stalker (Laith Nakli), presumably the infamous “Juba,” seems to have information about their previous military service. After Matthews is seriously injured by a stray bullet, he is forced to counsel Isaac as they try to keep themselves safe as it becomes increasingly clear that help will not arrive in time. Matthews may be trying to instill confidence in Isaac, but it becomes clear that he was able to avoid his own fears by having positive conversations with his friend.
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There are no taboos on the big screen.
The wallThe unexpected twist of the plot puts Cena out of action early onthereby subverting audience expectations of him. While Cena’s previous roles and physicality suggest he’s kicking down doors and taking out bad guys, the decision to have him lie behind a wall for the majority of the story allowed him to show his range as a dramatic actor. Cena is remarkably vulnerable, with Matthews more than aware that his life depends on Isaac successfully taking out the sniper. While he wants to offer his friend helpful advice, he also knows that putting too much pressure on Isaac could make him feel guilty if he doesn’t succeed. Cena’s occasional attempts at humor are used perfectly. Matthews is a character who uses humor as a defense mechanism, so it’s understandable that he makes a few dark jokes about his own mortality.
“The Wall” is not an ordinary war film
The wall maximizes the tension because the film’s approach to the war genre is so reduced. Anyone who comes to the film expecting an inspiring military epic like Saving Private Ryan might have been surprised to find something that resembled the intimacy of rear window. Much of the film revolves around the dramatic confrontations between Juba and Isaac, which reveal that their paths may have crossed in a tragedy that the U.S. military covered up. While there are larger implications regarding the code of silence that was tied to the entire Iraqi offensive, Cena’s portrayal shows that human lives are nonetheless at stake. Regardless of whether Isaac made mistakes or whether their entire operation was doomed from the start, he’s not fighting for his country so much as he’s trying to save a friend. The brief interactions between the two early in the story are made powerful thanks to the brilliant chemistry between Cena and Taylor-Johnson; there are years of inside jokes and bonding experiences that are hinted at but never fully described.
Cena showed a unique side of heroism not always seen in war movies. While his skills are beyond reproach, Matthews is a character defined by his empathy. He understands that the fact that he has advanced combat skills does not make him immune to criticism, as nothing would bring him more joy than not having to fire his weapon. Still, Cena pays respect to true veterans by taking each of the more action-packed scenes seriously. There isn’t a moment when he’s pursuing enemy activity that the viewer begins to think of his WWE persona, as Cena completely immerses himself in the character.
Is John Cena a great theater actor?
The wall was a sign that Cena could take on more than just comedic rolesand could develop into a more versatile performer like his wrestler colleagues Dwayne Johnson And Dave Bautista have become. While The suicide squad was certainly a more comedic take on the superhero genre, Cena’s performance as Christopher Smith was really scary at times and made his main role in the spin-off only Peacemaker series more complex. Cena should definitely not deviate from scene-stealing appearances in Barbie or Holiday friends 2 in the foreseeable future, but The wall suggested that working with more serious material might be an interesting way for him to shape his future career.
The wall is currently streaming on Prime Video in the US
Watch on Prime Video