Photo illustration by Slate . Photos courtesy Relativity Media, Internal Revenue Service, SAP Concur, Worksuite.The action film director Pierre Morel has long had his finger on the pulse of modern society, starting with his breakout feature—a searing and relatable portrait of the middle-aged dad’s helplessness in the face of a changing society, with Liam Neeson as a hapless ex-CIA agent who doesn’t want his daughter to go on a cool trip to Paris.
Morel’s newest film, starring John Cena and Alison Brie, comes to theaters Friday, and while I’ve only seen the trailer, it’s clear that once again Morel is addressing a crucial contemporary issue. This time, it’s the gig economy and job insecurity.
• John Cena uploads his invoice to the system, but the system rejects it because it must include an “invoice number,” so he typesKillers of the Flower Moon Isn’t the First Movie to Tell This Story. Hollywood’s First Attempt Was Startlingly Different.• Alison Brie asks John Cena if he has a company credit card to pay for a rescue helicopter out of Paldonia, and he has to admit that they don’t give those to freelancers.