Can a criminal inherit a dead agent's memories to save the world?
In short: In the 2016 thriller Criminal, a sociopathic convict is implanted with the memories of a deceased CIA operative to recover a stolen nuclear defense program. As the convict struggles with his new identity, he must navigate a dangerous web of international spies, hidden secrets, and unexpected emotional awakening.
The film centers on Jerico Stewart, a sociopath with frontal lobe damage who becomes the vessel for the memories of CIA agent Bill Pope. Pope, who died while hiding a hacker known as the Dutchman, held the key to a wormhole program capable of bypassing global nuclear security. Dr. Micah Franks, a neuroscientist, performs the experimental procedure to graft Pope’s knowledge onto Jerico, hoping the convict can locate the Dutchman before a rogue anarchist named Xavier Heimdahl secures the technology.
Production for the film, directed by Ariel Vromen, began in London on September 4, 2014. The project featured a notable ensemble cast, including Kevin Costner as Jerico, Gary Oldman as supervisor Quaker Wells, and Tommy Lee Jones as Dr. Franks. Despite the high-profile talent, the film faced significant challenges. It was released on April 15, 2016, after being delayed from an initial January release date. The production process involved diverse locations across London and Hampshire, including the use of the SOAS University of London library for key sequences.
Upon release, Criminal struggled to find an audience, grossing $38.8 million against a $31.5 million budget. Its opening weekend performance of $5.8 million was considered one of the weakest in Costner's career. Critical reception was largely negative, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 30% approval rating and Metacritic assigning a score of 36 out of 100. Reviewers often criticized the film for failing to leverage its talented cast, with some critics, such as those at Empire and the BBC, highlighting it as one of the year's worst cinematic efforts.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Criminal (2016 film)
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