Prime Video’s G20 combines politics and international diplomacy with non-stop action.
Directed by Patricia Riggen, Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis is a force to be reckoned with as she leads a star-studded cast composed of Marsai Martin, Antony Starr, Clark Gregg (shoutout Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Anthony Anderson, and Sabrina Impacciatore.
The film takes place during a G20 summit in Cape Town, South Africa that is interrupted by a terrorist group led by Rutledge (Starr). He hijacks the event in an effort to force economic reforms and takes the world’s most powerful leaders hostage. President of the United States, Danielle Sutton (Davis), is the only major figure not in enemy hands. Sutton must rely on her combat experience and quick thinking to survive alone. As she struggles to balance between her family and her team, G20 takes viewers on an adrenaline ride with a flick that keeps you invested every step of the way.
At the heart of G20 is Davis, who brings intensity to President Sutton as a fierce femme fatale, something new to her filmography. Davis nails her performance whenever she is on screen whether it’s a fight sequence or a deep speech. Audiences will be stunned at Davis’s physical ability as she shines in scenes that have her confronting terrorists while being in the highest leadership position of the country. As exhausted and beat up as she gets, she never gives up as she delivers one unbelievable performance. It’s rare that we see a Black woman as President of the United States, but Davis redefines it in a way that makes you forget about how male-driven the role really is.
The supporting cast stacks up next to Davis without overshadowing her. Starr is very entertaining as Rutledge and his performance channels tech-bro mixed with private-military ruthlessness that reminds you why we fell in love with him in another Prime Video title, The Boys. Martin plays Sutton’s tech mastermind daughter, Serena, while Anthony Anderson brings warmth to the screen as Sutton’s husband, Derek. If we’re talking about stand outs, Ramón Rodríguez as Manny Ruiz leads the way as the head of Sutton’s security detail, who is extremely loyal and competent.
Riggen’s directing keeps the tension tight and never lets the film drag on for too long in the same space. She successfully showcases chaotic sequences within the hostage crisis while Ben Richardson’s cinematography captures everything from the tight hallways where Sutton fights to the broader shots showing everyone scrambling. One thing that truly stands out about G20 is the rawness to the brutal fights as it is far from polished. It’s clear Sutton is trying to survive and not just showcase fancy fighting skills. These serve as the core of the film as the explosions and CGI fall a little flat in terms of delivering a Michael Bay-type of production.
With an action thriller like G20, one of the best parts is typically the vaillains. Regarding Rutledge, you find yourself not so much siding with him and his unhinged ways, but more so understanding why he views things the way that he does. It’s refreshing to see Starr get more roles as he is such a fan favorite in The Boys as Homelander (not super far off from his role in G20).
One might get lost with the dialogue, but the visuals definitely deter you from realizing it. You really have to give it to Davis as she is truly unlike we have ever seen her before. While we love her as the fearless lawyer in How To Get Away With Murder to running things as Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad, she really holds her own in such a fast paced, ass-kicking role. Here, she shows us what a true leader does in a moment of crisis, reminding us just how much we currently lack that in office today.
G20 is a solid and thrilling piece to release on a streaming platform as it’s likely that it doesn’t wield enough to have performed overly well at the box office if was released theatrically. While Davis elevates every scene she’s in, it simply wouldn’t have been enough to overshadow the often exaggerated plot. Regardless, G20 further proves that there should be more films that feature a Black woman in an elite political role as she absolutely crushed it. Davis was so inspiring with her relentless drive to not give up, to keep fighting, and never let the bad guys win.
Rating: 8/10