Aftermath - Short and sweet (well… sort of)

Anyone who's familiar with Schwarzenegger's career over the years will be well accustomed to him losing one family member to some big bad guy with an indeterminate accent and therefore Arnie having to go on a rampage of revenge, involving many machine guns and flexing of biceps.  Here, the big man loses his family to a plane crash and… doesn't pick up so much a handgun and shoot the airline's smarmy lawyer in the head during a victim-compensation office meeting.  Yes, it's fair to say that Arnie is showing off his (seldom-used) 'sensitive side.'

The film is actually the tale of two people: Arnie's character, Roman, and the man in charge of the flight control during the fatal plane crash, Jacob.  Now, no disrespect to the actor playing Jacob, but I'd never heard of him, meaning - for me - it seemed like they'd cast a nobody next to one of the most highly-recognisable actors of the modern age for 50% of the movie.  However, that's not really a gripe, more a comment.  Scoot McNairy plays the part well of the 'everyman' who's life changes one fateful day.

We see how the event effects the two central characters and I have to talk about Schwarzenegger more because this film is all about him moving out of his 'comfort zone,' rather than Scoot.  Does he pull it off?  Surprisingly, yes.  Maybe it's because he's older now and less imposing, but his large frame, shuffling around with his head stooped does give us the impression of a man crushed by tragic events.

Apparently this film is based on true events.  I never knew that going into the movie so I can't say how accurately it portrays whatever event it was based on.  However, it does show both sides of how one event can effect different people.

It's hard to recommend 'Aftermath' to anyone who isn't massive fan of Schwarzenegger and who wants to see him in a radically-different role.  It's certainly not a 'feel-good film' and you need to know that (a) you're not going to get your typical Schwarzenegger action movie and (b) it's pretty grim subject matter.  However, it is short and perhaps one of the most shocking moments (for me!) was when/how it ended.  It just seemed to come out of nowhere.  Still... I think it's a good additional to Arnie's C.V. (like he needs one!).

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that