Infinite is a scifi action thriller drama directed by Antonio Fuqua. The movie is based on D. Eric Maikranz’s 2009 novel The Reincarnationist Papers and stars Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The premise of Infinite revolves around the concept of reincarnated beings who retain the memories of past lives.
Wahlberg plays Evan McCauley, who possesses skills he has never learned and memories of places he has never visited. These memories haunt McCauley’s daily life. Diagnosed as a schizophrenic, self-medicated and on the brink of a mental breakdown, McCauley is sought by a secret group that call themselves “Infinites,” revealing to him that his memories may be real but they are from multiple past lives. Unfortunately, there is a group of “Infinites” – led by Bathurst (Ejiofor) – who are intent on destroying the world in order to stop reincarnating as they view life as hell and torture.
That’s basically what Infinite is about. The bulk of the movie is one long chase cum fight sequence between the two sets of “Infinites” with zero twists and subtlety. Characters are predictably two-dimensional, spouting inane dialogue and possessed of special abilities that seem illogically out of the capabilities of mere mortals.
READ OUR ANALYSIS OF OUTSIDE THE WIRE.
To be honest, calling this bullshit scifi is generous as it is illogical fantasy without any attempt at a realistic basis whatsoever. Sure, Infinite tries its best to channel The Matrix and Wanted but fails miserably. And while Ejiofor does his best with the poor script, Wahlberg is at his wooden unlikeable best. It seems that Chris Evans was original intended for McCauley and what a difference that might have made, in spite of the risible plot and characters.
Sorry but there is nothing remotely redeemable about Infinite – it takes a half-promising premise and goes absolutely nowhere with it. At least with The Old Guard, there is pathos built up amongst the characters due to their immortality, and of course, Charlize Theron (!). However, Infinite is simply a piece of crap and should be avoided at all cost.
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