Zeros and Ones (2021) is a war thriller directed by the experienced Abel Ferrara, starring Ethan Hawke in a dual role. The film follows the mission of a soldier named JJ who must prevent a threat in the Vatican while searching for his missing brother. However, the obscurity and confusing storytelling become major weaknesses of this work.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
JJ (Ethan Hawke) is an American soldier assigned to a mission in Rome to intercept an imminent terrorist plot at the Vatican. Amidst the chaos, he must also find his anarchist brother (also played by Hawke), a political prisoner who may have died. The story unfolds in the dark atmosphere of the Eternal City, under curfew and paranoia. JJ must fight both external enemies and his inner demons.
Acting and Characters
Ethan Hawke plays two characters, JJ and his brother Justin, an unusual challenge. His performance remains powerful and believable. However, the characters lack depth and clear motivation, making it hard for the audience to connect with the storyline. Supporting actors like Cristina Chiriac and Valerio Mastandrea seem to have important roles but are left drifting without development.
Direction, Cinematography, and Music
Abel Ferrara directs with a raw and realistic style, using shadows and dark imagery to create an oppressive atmosphere. However, it often loses balance between the intention to create art-house and a comprehensible narrative. The score by Joe Delia enhances some scenes well, but overall, the film lacks tight pacing and exciting action sequences, making many stretches feel prolonged and boring.
Editorial Analysis
Zeros and Ones attempts to convey the chaos of the modern world through symbols and obscure dialogue, but ends up being incomprehensible and directionless. The title, referencing binary numbers, may suggest a dichotomy between good and evil or truth and falsehood, but the narrative is not clear enough to communicate that idea. Ultimately, the film may appeal to hardcore fans of Ethan Hawke or viewers who enjoy experimental cinema, but not to those looking for an enjoyable and straightforward war thriller.
Verdict
Zeros and Ones is a film full of ambition but fails to communicate. Ethan Hawke does his job well, but the obscure storyline and slow pacing make the film forgettable. Only suitable for hardcore fans of Abel Ferrara or those who enjoy experimental cinema.
Screenshots
👍 Pros
- +Strong performance by Ethan Hawke, especially in dual roles
- +Dark atmosphere and beautiful nighttime cinematography of Rome
- +Intention to tell a story from a different perspective than typical war films
👎 Cons
- −Obscure and confusing script that is nearly impossible to follow
- −Slow and directionless pacing
- −Characters lack depth and motivation
Top Cast
FAQ
The film follows a soldier named JJ who must prevent a terrorist attack at the Vatican and find his missing brother.
Not very enjoyable for general audiences due to its obscure script and slow pacing, but fans of art films or Ethan Hawke may like it.
There is only one film.
It can be streamed on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV (depending on region).
