We all know Peter Berg doesn't make 'nice' films but he does make highly watchable ones, and usually very violent ones, and "Mile 22" is one of his best. The plot is ridiculously simple and at the same time, ridiculously complex; blame that on Berg's cutting whereby if we blink we might miss reams of crucial information. All you need to know is that it's set in Indonesia and is about a group of American operatives attempting to get an Indonesian cop with a valued secret out of the country. Oh, and the Russians are also involved.
As an action flic it's close to perfect though Mark Wahlberg's nasty, chip-on-his-shoulder operative in charge is possibly the least likeable action hero in recent memory while John Malkovitch is reduced to another of his cameos as the guy directing things from HQ. As the cop Iko Uwais has little to do but look buffed and do some very nifty (and nasty) kung fu fighting. And yes, it does pay homage to "The Raid" but then we always knew it would. Slowing the pace might have helped, particularly when it comes to figuring out who is doing what to who, but lovers of appallingly violent action pictures will have a field day.
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