TRASH IN MY EYE No. 13 of 2025 (No. 2019) by Leroy Douresseaux
The Beekeeper (2024)
Running time: 105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPA – R for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use.
DIRECTOR: David Ayer
WRITER: Kurt Wimmer
PRODUCERS: David Ayer, Jason Statham, Bill Block, Chris Long, and Kurt Wimmer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Gabriel Beristain (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Geoffrey O'Brien
COMPOSERS: Jared Michael Fry and David Sardy
ACTION/CRIME
Starring: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, David Witts, Michael Epp, Taylor James, Jemma Redgrave, Minnie Driver, Don Gilet, Dan Li, Derek Siow, and Phylicia Rashad
The Beekeeper is a 2024 American vigilante action-thriller from director David Ayer and writer Kurt Wimmer. Starring Jason Statham, the film follows an assassin who sets out for revenge after his kindhearted landlady falls victim to a phishing scam.
The Beekeeper opens in rural Massachusetts. There, Adam Clay (Jason Statham) is a quiet beekeeper who rents land and barn space from retired school teacher, Eloise Parker (Phylicia Rashad). The two have a warm relationship. Eloise also manages a children's charity and watches over her retirement funds. However, Eloise falls victim to a phishing and hacking scam operated by a call center, “United Data Group.” The lead hacker, Boyd Garnett (David Witts), tricks Eloise into giving him access to her computer, whereupon he drains it of all her life savings and of the two million dollars she manages for the charity. Eloise is devastated and tragedy strikes.
In response, Adam sets out on a mission of revenge. He heads to Boston to confront Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson), the owner of “Nine Star United,” the company behind United Data Group. Danforth, however, is very well connected, so well connected that it is impossible to imagine. Soon, Adam Clay is taking on the FBI Boston field office, S.W.A.T., and hired mercenaries. How can one man take on all that? Well, Adam Clay, the beekeeper, is also an former assassin and operative of the type known as a “Beekeeper.”
If you enjoyed the 2014 Denzel Washington revenge vehicle, The Equalizer, and its sequels, and the 2014 Keanu Reeves revenge vehicle, John Wick, and its sequels, you will likely enjoy The Beekeeper. First, it's one of the better movies from the filmography of director David Ayer (Suicide Squad). Secondly, it is one of the better movies written by Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium).
Third, it's Jason Statham, and if you are a fan of his (and I am), then The Beekeeper shows that he has not lost his sting... his punch... his kick... or his firearm and bladed weapon skills. Plus, the allegorical and symbolic nature of Adam Clay as both a beekeeper and as a “Beekeeper” are quite clever and genuinely connected. I don't want to say more because I find this movie's plot and plot points easy to spoil, but I can say that it is a blast to watch. Even if you are not the biggest Statham fans, dear readers, I believe that you will enjoy – to some extent – this tightly composed and cheerfully violent movie. I can say that anyone who gets in the way of Statham's Adam Clay – good guy or bad guy – is put in a world of pain.
The rest of the performances are okay. The other characters are merely there to be acted upon by Adam Clay. Still, Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune) and Oscar-nominee Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) are sadly wasted in this film. I really only watched The Beekeeper in preparation for Statham's new film with David Ayer (as of this writing), the ridiculously titled, A Working Man, which I may or may not see during its theatrical release. Still, I am glad that I stopped putting off seeing The Beekeeper because it is a hugely entertaining action movie. It floats like a butterfly and stings like a demonic bee.
7 of 10
B+
★★★½ out of 4 stars
Thursday, March 27, 2025
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