In the ruthless jungle of modern warfare — both literal and figurative — Freelance (2023) doesn’t walk in politely. It kicks the door open with a smirk, gun in hand, and past wounds bleeding beneath the surface. Directed by Pierre Morel, this film isn’t just another action flick — it’s a twisted waltz between duty, desire, and the dark humor of survival.
The Game They Never Wanted to Play
Mason Pettits (John Cena), an ex-special forces soldier, takes a freelance gig he thought would be simple: protect a fearless journalist (Alison Brie) on an assignment interviewing the volatile dictator of a blood-soaked nation. But destiny, like war, never asks for permission. The mission implodes into chaos, leaving Mason knee-deep in a conflict where enemies, allies, and truth itself wear shifting masks.
The Quote That Hits Like a Punch
“You don’t get to choose the war.”
This line lands like a silent bullet — cold, precise, unforgettable. It’s the brutal anthem of the film, echoing through every chase, every betrayal. It reminds us that some battles find you… whether you’re ready or not. You can run from your past, but war — in any form — finds your scent and hunts you down.
Emotions Beneath the Armor
Underneath the sweat, gunpowder, and sarcastic one-liners lies a story about the wars we carry inside. Mason’s fight isn’t just with armed rebels — it’s with his haunted memories, with choices he can’t undo, with a life that turned him into a weapon. And maybe, just maybe, with the hope that a man forged in violence can still reclaim his soul.
Freelance isn’t a tale of heroes and villains. It’s a messy, bloodied confession that in this world, the wars we don’t choose often define us the most.
“You don’t get to choose the war.” And sometimes… the war chooses you when you least expect it.
