Heart of Stone (2023)- Movie Review and Summary
Netflix and Gal Gadot’s “Heart of Stone” is a disappointing spy film without any heart put into the script or action.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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General Information
| Director(s) | Tom Harper |
| Screenplay By | Greg Rucka and Allison Shcroeder |
| Based On | N/A |
| Date Released (Netflix ) | August 11, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Film Length | 2 Hours, 2 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated PG-13 |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Rachel Stone | Gal Gadot |
| Parker | Jamie Dornan |
| Keya Dhawan | Alia Bhatt |
| Nomad | Sophie Okonedo |
What Is “Heart of Stone” Rated And Why?
“Heart of Stone” is rated PG-13 due to violence and peril.
Film Summary
This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.
What the hell is going on in “Heart of Stone?” Is the plot nonsensical, am I bored, am I stupid, or do all the names and hubbub even matter when Gal Gadot shoots a gun and a pop soundtrack plays? Perhaps it’s all of the above. “Heart of Stone” throws viewers right into the action with special agent Rachel Stone (Gal Gadot) working with a secret organization to prevent some bad guys from getting a thing. While this is the plot of many action movies, “Heart of Stone” is so nondescript that Netflix has successfully made another movie to numb people’s brains.
Stone is a skilled hacker, fighter, and driver. In fact, she’s a secret agent for the Charter, a hidden and elite global organization that prevents global threats. While her daytime coworkers/field agents don’t know about Stone’s occupation, her worlds collide when both the Charter and her field agent co-workers want to find Keya Dhawan (Alia Bhatt), a skilled hacker who can access a special intelligence system called The Heart. Unfortunately for Stone, just as she starts to get close to her colleagues, she risks the mission when one of her colleagues, Parker (Jamie Dornan), is actually the bad guy wanting to use The Heart for evil purposes.
“Heart of Stone” attempts to create its own secret organization like “Mission: Impossible” or the “John Wick” series by including vague titles of mysterious figures all connected to playing cards (like the Kings, the Heart, etc.). But the movie is so focused on creating these titles that it never gives any of the people encasing them a personality. “Heart of Stone” is filled with characters spilling out gobbledygook and exposition without showing why we should care about any of them. The lack of actual heart in “Heart of Stone” makes the movie cold, sterile, and forgettable.
Other Noteworthy Information
- “Heart of Stone” is the first film in a potential spy franchise.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Rachel Stone
When Stone isn’t busy hacking into computers and reporting for field agents, she’s busy kicking butts in the name of peace for The Charter. While she’s told not to get close to anyone, it’s having people she cares about that makes her the best agent The Charter has.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Wonder Woman,” their role in “Red Notice,” and their role in “Fast Five.”
Parker
Parker is one of Stone’s field agent colleagues. He initially seems like a dependable person, but “Heart of Stone” soon reveals Parker has more menacing intentions.
- The actor is also known for their role in “50 Shades of Grey,” their role in “A Private War,” and their role in “Belfast.”
Keya Dhawan
Keya is a young but intelligent computer hacker who wants to end The Charter. She may have lost family members due to one of The Charter’s secret missions, and she’s now The Charter’s #1 enemy.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Student of the Year,” their role in “Udta Punjab,” and their role in “Gangubai Kathiyawadi.”
Nomad
Nomad is Stone’s boss and one of the lead mission operators in The Charter. While she supports Stone, Nomad understands that The Charter’s mission is bigger than any individual’s life, including her own.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Hotel Rwanda,” their role in “Skin,” and their role in “Antony and Cleopatra.”
Review
Our Rating: Negative (Acquired Taste)
Who Is This For?
People who enjoy action flicks, fans of Gal Gadot, or anyone who wants something playing in the background without paying too much attention to it.
Low Points
Two Hours of Gibberish with No Style
Each character in “Heart of Stone” has a chance to give a monologue of exposition without us learning about who the character is. Almost every character’s personality is interchangeable with another character’s, so they all become mushy stereotypes based on better action and spy films. But the action and mission in this movie are so devoid of purpose and style that the plot goes in one ear and out the other, and the action scenes make your eyes glaze over.
Content for the Sake of Content
In the last twenty minutes of the movie, Rachel Stone asks the villain Parker, “What’s your point?” The movie went this long without explaining why the villain was doing what he was doing. You may be wondering what the point of this movie is too. The cover art is no help, with Gal Gadot’s face plastered front and center without a single hint that this is an action movie. “Heart of Stone” simply feels like it was made by AI, and Gal Gadot got a big paycheck from Netflix.
On The Fence
Action Aplenty, But None of It Interesting
There’s a snowmobile fight, a motorcycle chase, an ambush, explosions, and guns galore, yet I struggled to remember all of that without looking at my notes for this review. If “Heart of Stone” is an action movie, it’s like the fast food of action movies—all filler, no substance. There are close-ups of punches and weapons, quick cuts of legs flying, and guns shooting, but nothing gets your heart racing. All of it feels like a disappointing obligation instead of some action or stunt coordinator getting the chance to be creative.
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FAQs
Answers to some questions you may have regarding this movie:
The Reason The Movie Is Named “Heart of Stone”
“Heart of Stone” has its title due to the protagonist Rachel Stone’s quest for the secret weapon, The Heart.
Does “Heart of Stone” Setup A Sequel or Prequel?
“Heart of Stone” hints that Rachel’s team has now expanded and can work on more missions together in the future.
Does “Heart of Stone” Have A Mid-Credit or End Credit Scene?
No, there are no mid-credit or end-credit scenes.
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- Plot and Dialog - 0/100
- Character Development and Performances - 0/100
- Visuals (VFX & Direction) and Sound (Music and Audio) - 0/100
- Pacing - 0/100
- Value For Intended Audience - 0/100
