Watch They Call Me Jeeg
- 2015
- 1 hr 52 min
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7.0 (16,501)
They Call Me Jeeg is a sensational drama directed by Gabriele Mainetti and was released in 2015. The movie brings together an impressive cast of Claudio Santamaria, Luca Marinelli, and Ilenia Pastorelli to tell the story of a thief and a loner named Enzo. The film is set in Rome and follows the life of a misanthropic individual who gains superhuman powers after being exposed to a radioactive material.
The film opens to a scene of the main protagonist, Enzo, played by Claudio Santamaria, who has been living in isolation for years. Enzo suffers from a superiority complex and is a self-absorbed person who desires to be left alone. This perception is mainly because of his inability to form strong social relationships with the people around him. An incident leads to a character transformation in Enzo, which results in the emergence of his superhero persona, Jeeg, which is inspired by a Japanese anime he is obsessed with.
As a product of his circumstances, Enzo is uncouth and apprehensive. He dwells in a dingy apartment and is involved in the criminal underworld of Rome. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he falls into a partially contaminated river that leads to his exposure to radioactive waste dumped by a criminal organization. This exposure takes a toll on him as his personality undergoes a significant transformation.
Jeeg's superpowers manifest through his physical strength, agility, and ability to heal quickly. At first, Enzo is shocked by this transformation and, upon realizing the extent of his abilities, embarks on a journey to discover the limits of his newfound power. He eventually decides to use his power to help people, even though he has always been a criminal. Jeeg, unlike other superheroes in movies, is not invincible as he is also prone to injury and exhaustion.
Throughout the movie, Enzo struggles to come to terms with his identity as Jeeg as well as manage his superhero duties. He is also pursued by a criminal organization led by Sergio, played by Luca Marinelli, that dumped the radioactive waste into the river. Jeeg's action-packed fight scenes with the criminals bring a sense of thrill and excitement to the movie. The tension between Sergio and Jeeg builds up throughout the film and culminates in a dramatic showdown.
Ilenia Pastorelli plays Alessia, a young girl whom Enzo develops an unlikely bond with after he rescues her from a group of bullies. Alessia is fascinated by Jeeg and is the only person who knows about Enzo's secret identity. She accompanies him on his superhero adventures and helps him understand his inner demons. The relationship between Jeeg and Alessia is at the heart of the film, adding a touch of softness to the movie's hard-hitting action scenes.
The cinematography and visual effects in They Call Me Jeeg are stunning. The film showcases the beauty of Rome as well as its darker side. The city serves as a perfect backdrop to Jeeg's crime-fighting escapades. The movie also explores themes such as self-discovery, redemption, and relationships.
In conclusion, They Call Me Jeeg is an excellent superhero movie that defies the conventional narrative of a superhero rising to save the world. The film highlights the importance of human connections, redemption, and self-discovery. Claudio Santamaria delivers an outstanding performance as Enzo and Jeeg, immersing the viewers into his world. They Call Me Jeeg is an enthralling film that promises to keep the audience engaged throughout its runtime.
They Call Me Jeeg is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.