Stratton (2017)

Stratton (2017) is a British action thriller directed by Simon West, adapted from Duncan Falconer's novel series. The film stars Dominic Cooper as John Stratton, a Special Boat Service (SBS) operative working for MI6.

🎬 Plot Summary

The story follows Sergeant John Stratton, who, after a failed mission to destroy an Iranian bioweapon, suspects a mole within his team. His superior identifies the terrorist leader as Grigory Barovsky, a Russian spy believed to be dead for nearly two decades. Barovsky plans to launch a biological weapon attack on London using a drone system. Stratton and his American counterpart, Hank, race against time to stop the threat, leading to a high-stakes chase through Rome and London. The climax involves a dramatic confrontation on a double-decker bus in London, where Stratton prevents the deployment of the bioweapon. 

👥 Main Cast

• Dominic Cooper as John Stratton

• Gemma Chan as Aggy

• Connie Nielsen as Sumner

• Austin Stowell as Hank

• Tyler Hoechlin as Marty

   

• Tom Felton as Cummings

• Thomas Kretschmann as Grigory Barovsky

• Derek Jacobi as Ross

🎥 Production Details

• Director: Simon West

• Writers: Duncan Falconer, Warren Davis II

• Music: Nathaniel Méchaly

• Cinematography: Felix Wiedemann

• Editing: Andrew MacRitchie

• Runtime: 95 minutes

• Country: United Kingdom

• Language: English

• Budget: £12.9 million

Principal photography began on 15 July 2015 in Brindisi, Italy, and later moved to Rome and London. 

📉 Reception

Stratton received predominantly negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 0% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 3.20/10. The critical consensus reads: "Stratton's action-thriller ambitions are roundly thwarted by a derivative story, misguided casting, and a low-budget feel underscored by unimpressive set pieces."

On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 26 out of 100, based on reviews from 10 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews." 

If you're interested in a British military action film with intense sequences and a spy-thriller narrative, Stratton might be worth a watch. However, be aware of its critical reception.