Although the comparisons between Safe House and the Robert Redford classic Three Days Of The Condor are obvious, Safe House is definitely a Condor for the 21st Century. For one thing it has Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in it and in it for much of the film together. If they didn't have good chemistry, this film would have flopped bad.

Denzel Washington plays Tobin Jones once a ranking CIA agent who went rogue after the turn of the millennium and now just peddles whatever he can get his hands on to the highest bidder. He's got something now that people would kill to have and do.

After getting the proverbial Hitchcockian McGuffin from an old friend from British MI6 who gets killed in the process, Washington goes to seek asylum in the US Consulate in Capetown. They escort him to a Safe House that the CIA has there where Ryan Reynolds works and Reynolds is just feeling under-appreciated and hoping for a transfer to some glamorous station like Paris where he does have a girlfriend.

Then the bad guys come and wipe out the Safe House which proves to be quite unsafe. But Reynolds and Washington escape, Washington in Reynolds custody and not sure of who to trust including each other.

Washington and Reynolds work well together in Safe House. Their situation also reminded a bit of 3:10 To Yuma where Van Heflin and Glenn Ford are kind of joined at the hip and Heflin also has to deliver Ford to Yuma prison.

Quite a few twists in Safe House, just the ingredient that an action/adventure film like this needs. I'd see it as soon as possible.

SAFE HOUSE is a South Africa-filmed action flick that inevitably finds itself heavily indebted to the whole Paul Greengrass BOURNE style in the tale of a cop and a crim who have to team up when they find themselves pursued by a ruthless and murderous gang.

What we have here is an entirely familiar film that nevertheless manages to score a few points along the way, mostly in the action stakes. For SAFE HOUSE is a fast paced, action-oriented movie that features a handful of breakneck shoot-outs, and a film that's held together for the most part by another assured role for Denzel Washington.

Washington can do these kinds of roles in his sleep by now, and it's fair to say that the character of Tobin Frost is hardly a stretch. Nevertheless, he's the best thing in the film by far, delivering a kind of laconic toughness that really works in its favour. Ryan Reynolds is, inevitably, less impressive as the forgettable younger lead, but there are a handful of decent supporting parts for the likes of Liam Cunningham, Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, and Robert Patrick.

While the plot is routine to say the least, SAFE HOUSE at least looks good and the cinematography is strong. The plot has its share of twists and turns to keep viewers engaged, and I thought the violent but inevitable climax was particularly decent. Not a great film then, but a solid one nonetheless.

Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) is the CIA's most dangerous rogue agent. He is captured and taken to the Cape Town safe house where rookie CIA operative Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) is in control. It's supposed to be a quiet post but all hell breaks loose.

This is a tight little action thriller. Denzel is again his controlled best. Ryan plays the rookie well. These two have great chemistry. They put this movie over the top. The only thing that's truly missing is an IP or sequel setup for the franchise. This is a tight thriller anchored by a couple of top notch actors. They don't make quite as many of these mid-level thrillers any more.