the Christmas action film that walks on the heels of Die Hard

« I love action thrillers. Like those in the saga Die Hardwith Bruce Willis. I was also curious to confront the physical aspect of this type of cinema. How far will I be able to express myself by using only my body? »smiles Danielle Deadwyler. The African-American actress, starring in historical dramas Emmett Till et The Piano Lessonchanges register with Netflix’s entertaining Christmas blockbuster Carry-On. This countdown by Jaume Collet-Serra marches greedily on the flowerbeds of John McClane. She plays a cop who flies to the rescue of an air security agent stationed at the Los Angeles airport.

Having chosen his profession out of necessity for food and to flirt with the woman who is now his wife, Ethan (Taron Egerton, Rocketman) is completely bored with his daily routine of searching passengers and checking passports. Having learned that he was going to become a father, he decided, on Christmas Eve, to move up the ranks and asked to take care of the X-raying of hand luggage. It’s bad for him. He finds an abandoned earphone in a bin.

At the other end of the line, a terrorist who observes his every move via video surveillance cameras. If Ethan does not close his eyes when a suitcase containing a lethal neurotoxin is scanned, his wife and his colleagues will be killed. A race against time begins to find a stratagem of disobedience without multiplying the collateral damage. Half executioner, half shrink, the raven (Jason Bateman) takes pleasure in tormenting his hero and giving him advice on personal development. Ethan faces a classic dilemma. Are the lives of loved ones worth more than those of a hundred passengers?

“Labyrinthine world”

And fashion 24 chrono hoursdirector Jaume Collet-Serra delves behind the scenes, closed to the public, of the airport anthill. An unusual and well-found arena. « Jaume Collet-Serra questions the notion of public space which becomes a place of vulnerability and influence. How can we protect a crowd, a community ? », pointe Danielle Deadwyler. « When you set foot in an airport, you only want to get out as quickly as possible. Getting on the plane, collecting your luggage… It’s a place of transit, the mode of operation of which is completely beyond our control. I’m more patient now when I have to take a flight », remarks the actress delighted to have been able to film in the old New Orleans airport. « I discovered the fascinating intertwining of conveyor belts and machines through which our suitcases travel. We understand better why so many are lost. It is a labyrinthine world much larger than what we perceive. I discovered corners that I did not suspect, conducive to shadow play with the best effect », Adds the actress, who had her quota of action.

This diligent taekwondo practitioner treats herself to an improbable close-quarters combat scene in the passenger compartment of a car speeding along the ring road to the sound of Last Christmas de Wham ! « Our exchange of blows was a dance. Except that we also had to deal with the movements of the vehicle and the safety harnesses. Without meaning to, I sometimes hit my target ». Enough to grant the wishes of the one who started on the stage.