In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica delve into the gripping heist thriller *Fuze*—a film that masterfully intertwines a city-wide crisis with a daring bank robbery. Set against the backdrop of London in lockdown due to the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb, the story follows two compelling narratives: Major Will Tranter, played by Aaron Taylor Johnson, leading the bomb squad, and the cunning bank robber Keralis, portrayed by Theo James, who seizes the chaos to execute a meticulously planned heist.
The hosts discuss the film's high-stakes tension, where the bomb squad's life-or-death mission collides with the robbers' desperate attempts to stay one step ahead of the law. They explore the contrasting motivations of Tranter, a heroic veteran, and Keralis, a ruthless mastermind, highlighting how these character dynamics elevate the film's narrative depth.
Chris and Jessica also touch on the strong supporting cast, including Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Chief Superintendent Zuzana, whose quiet intensity adds layers to the police response, and Saffron Hawking as Sergeant Duty Keane, who provides a grounding presence amidst the chaos. The emotional weight brought by characters like Rahim, played by Elham Esses, reminds viewers that even in the midst of disaster, personal stories unfold.
The hosts commend the film’s cinematography by Gyles Nutjens, which captures the claustrophobic tension of the bomb scenes and the eerie atmosphere of an evacuated city. Tony Dugan's score enhances this experience, combining pulse-pounding beats with haunting melodies that maintain a sense of dread throughout.
With a relentless pace that keeps viewers engaged, the film is praised for its smart writing by Ben Hopkins, featuring twists that feel earned and rooted in character development. Chris and Jessica agree on the film’s satisfying ending, which leaves just enough ambiguity to linger in the mind long after the credits roll.
With a score of 7.5 out of 10, this episode encourages listeners to experience *Fuze*, a thrilling ride that balances action, suspense, and heart. Join Chris and Jessica as they unpack the intricacies of this engaging film that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Chris: Okay, so here's a wild thought. London in
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 lockdown. Not because of a pandemic or a
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 protest, but because someone dug up an
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 unexploded World War II bomb. And while the
00:00:09 --> 00:00:10 city is scrambling to deal with that, a group
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 of criminals decides, hey, perfect time to
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 rob a bank. That's the setup for Fuse. And
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 honestly, it's kind of genius.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Jessica: Oh, absolutely. It's one of those premises
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 that immediately grabs your attention. You've
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 got this massive city wide crisis happening
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 and then someone decides to exploit the chaos
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 for their own gain. It's such a high
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 stakes, high tension scenario. And the movie
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 really leans into that.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 Chris: Right. And what's so interesting is how, uh,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:39 the movie doesn't just focus on one
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 storyline. You've got the bomb squad, led by
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 Major Will Tranter, played by Aaron Taylor
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 Johnson, trying to defuse this massive bomb.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 And then you've got the bank robbers, led by
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 Theo James as Careless, trying to pull off
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 this meticulously planned heist. It's
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 like two movies happening at the same time,
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 and they're constantly intersecting.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 Jessica: And what's great is that both storylines are
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 equally compelling. On one hand
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 you've got this life or death situation with
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 the bomb, and on the other you've got
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 this high stakes robbery where everything
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 could go wrong at any moment. The tension
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 just keeps building and building and you're
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 constantly wondering how it's all going to
00:01:18 --> 00:01:19 collide.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 Chris: Exactly. And the way the movie balances those
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 two threads is really impressive. You've got
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 Tranter, who's this heroic Afghanistan
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 veteran, trying to keep his team focused and
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 calm under immense pressure. And then you've
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 got Carolus, who's this ruthless,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 calculating criminal mastermind trying to
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 stay one step ahead of the police. They're
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 both leaders, but their motivations and
00:01:43 --> 00:01:44 methods couldn't be more different.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 Jessica: And that contrast is what makes it so
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 fascinating. Tranter is all about duty and
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 sacrifice. He's literally putting his life on
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 the line to save others. Meanwhile,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Keralis is just out for himself and his crew.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 But at the same time, you can't help but
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 admire how meticulous and strategic he is.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 He's not just some thug with a gun, he's a
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 planner, a thinker.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Chris: And then you got all these other characters
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 adding layers to the story, like Chief
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 Superintendent Zuzana, played by Gugu
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 Mbatha, um, Raw. She's the one coordinating
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 the police evacuation. And she's got this
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 quiet intensity about her. You can tell she's
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 someone who's used to making tough decisions.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 But this situation is really testing her
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 limits.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 Jessica: Oh, for sure. And then there's
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 Sergeant Duty Keane, played by Saffron
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 Hawking, who's Tranter's second in command on
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 the bomb squad. She's kind of the voice of
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 reason, the one who keeps him grounded when
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 things start to spiral. Their dynamic
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 adds this nice layer of humanity to the
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 story. It's not just about the mission,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 it's about the people carrying it out.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 Chris: And let's not forget about Rahim, played by
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 Elham Esses and his elderly father.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 They're just trying to get out of the city so
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 they can catch a flight, but they get caught
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 up in the chaos. Their storyline adds this
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 emotional weight to the movie. It's a
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 reminder that all these big dramatic events
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 are affecting real people in very personal
00:03:14 --> 00:03:14 ways.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 Jessica: Right. And I think that's one of the things
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 that sets Fuse apart. It's not just about the
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 action or the suspense. It's about the human
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 element. You've got all these different
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 perspectives, and the movie does a great job
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 of making you care about each one. Even
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 the bank robbers, as terrible as they are,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 have moments where you almost sympathize with
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 them. Almost,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 yeah.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 Chris: And I think a lot of that comes down to the
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 performances. Aaron Taylor Johnson is
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 fantastic as Tranter. He's got this
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 intensity that makes you believe he's someone
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 who's been through hell and come out the
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 other side. And then Gugum
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 Batharw as Zuzana. She's just so
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 commanding. You really feel the weight of
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 her responsibility in every scene.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 Jessica: And Theo James as Keralis.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 Wow. He's so good at being bad.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 He's got this charisma that makes you want to
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 watch him even as you're rooting for him to
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 fail. And then there's Sam Worthington as
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 his second in command, Ex. He's like this
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 coiled spring, always on edge, always ready
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 to snap. Their dynamic is so compelling to
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19 watch.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 Chris: Definitely. And I also really liked Elham
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 Essas as Rahim. He's not a
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 major character, but he brings this quiet
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 strength to his role. You can tell he's
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 someone who's just trying to do the right
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 thing for his family, even as everything
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 around him is falling apart.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Jessica: And we can't talk about Fuse without
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 mentioning the cinematography. Gyles
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 Nutjens absolutely nails it. The way
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 he captures the tension of the bomb scenes,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 the claustrophobia of the bank vault and the
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 eerie emptiness of an evacuated London. It
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 all adds so much to the atmosphere.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 Chris: Oh, absolutely. And then there's the score by
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 Tony Dugan, which is Just phenomenal. It's
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 this mix of pulse pounding beats and haunting
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 melodies that keeps you on edge the entire
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 time. Even in the quieter moments, there's
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 this underlying sense of dread that never
00:05:09 --> 00:05:09 lets up.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 Jessica: So what did you think about the pacing?
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Because for me, that was one of the movie's
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 biggest strengths. It's relentless, but it
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 never feels rushed. Every scene has a
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 purpose. And the way the tension builds and
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 builds, it's just so well done.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 Chris: I completely agree. The pacing is spot on.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 And what's impressive is how the movie
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 balances its different elements. You've got
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 the action, the suspense, the drama, and even
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 a bit of humor here and there, and it all
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 works together seamlessly. There's never a
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 moment where you feel like the movie is
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 trying to do too much.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 Jessica: And I think a lot of that comes down to the
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 writing. Ben Hopkins, the screenwriter, does
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 such a great job of keeping you guessing.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 Just when you think you've got it all figured
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 out, there's another twist. And
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 they're not cheap twists either. They're all
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 rooted in the characters and the story.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 Chris: Yeah, the twists are definitely a highlight.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 And what's great is that they don't just come
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 out of nowhere. The movie lays the groundwork
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 for them. So when they happen, they feel
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 earned. It's one of those movies where you
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 want to go back and watch it again just to
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 catch all the little details you might have
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 missed the first time.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 Jessica: So let's talk about the ending. Without
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 giving too much away, of course. Did it work
00:06:22 --> 00:06:22 for you?
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 Chris: Oh, absolutely. I thought the ending was
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 perfect. It ties up all the loose ends in a
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 way that's satisfying but not too neat.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 And, um, there's this one moment. I won't
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 spoil it, but it's just so unexpected and so
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 brilliant. It's the kind of ending that
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 sticks with you long after the credits roll.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 Jessica: I felt the same way. It's one of those
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 endings that makes you want to sit in silence
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 for a few minutes just to process everything.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 And I love that the movie doesn't spoon feed
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 you all the answers. It leaves you with just
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 enough ambiguity to keep you thinking.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 Chris: So the big question, should people see this
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 movie?
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 Jessica: Without a doubt. If you're into high stakes
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 thrillers with smart writing, great
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 performances, and a lot of heart, this is
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 definitely worth your time. It's not
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 perfect. There are a few moments where the
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 plot stretches credibility a bit, but
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 overall, it's such a fun, engaging ride.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 Chris: Yeah, I'm with you. It's not going to win any
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 Oscars, but it doesn't need to. It knows
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 exactly what it is and it delivers on its
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 promises. It's tense, it's exciting, and it's
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 got enough twists to keep you hooked from
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 start to finish. I'd say It's a solid
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 7.5 out of 10.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 Jessica: Same here. And honestly,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 sometimes that's all you want from a movie.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 Something that grabs your attention, keeps
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 you entertained, and leaves you feeling like
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 you got your money's worth.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Chris: Exactly. So if you're
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 looking for something to watch this weekend,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Fuse is definitely worth checking out.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 Just don't forget to breathe because this one
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 will keep you on the edge of your seat.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 Jessica: And maybe double check your popcorn supply
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 because you're not going to want to miss a
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 second of this one.