Movie English Lesson
The Hitman's Bodyguard
Learn English through hilarious, high-octane action scenes.
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The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) - I Was Up Here Scene
Michael Bryce is dealing with a severe mid-career crisis after losing a high-profile client. Sitting at a casual outdoor cafe along a canal in Amsterdam, he complains bitterly to a local juice vendor about how his life fell apart. Meanwhile, across the street, the legendary hitman Darius Kincaid emerges from a building and immediately becomes the target of a massive, explosive ambush. While Kincaid utilizes intense tactical maneuvers to survive, Bryce watches the entire firefight completely unfazed, treating the lethal gunfight as background theater while sipping his drink.
Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds): A deeply cynical protection agent who is too preoccupied wallowing in self-pity and discussing his career downfalls to care about a warzone breaking out around him.
Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson): An unstoppable hitman who dynamically battles a swarm of armed mercenaries, dodging bullets, leaping onto moving public trams, and hijacking boats with complete ease.
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Bryce [00:00:01]: I was a Triple-A rated protection agent. I was elite. I lived in a house with walls! I had a beautiful, smart girlfriend... and then he showed up.
Juice Vendor: Who?
Bryce [00:00:11]: Darius Kincaid. One lucky shot from a mile away, and boom! My career is down the toilet. And now look at me. I'm sitting here in Amsterdam, drinking whatever... what is this even? What did you put in this?
Juice Vendor: It's kale, broccoli, and a hint of organic ginger.
Bryce [00:00:26]: It tastes like a lawnmower's regular maintenance cycle. *Sighs* My life is a complete mess.
Mercenary Spotter [00:00:31]: Target is moving. Corner of Prinsengracht. Move in, move in!
[Massive gunfire breaks out across the street. Cars explode, windows shatter, and mercenaries attack Kincaid. Kincaid ducks, returns fire smoothly, and slides behind cover.]
Juice Vendor [00:00:48]: Oh my god! Should we run? Should we go inside?!
Bryce [00:00:52]: No, don't worry about it. They are completely focused over there. Just watch this... look at him go. He's totally showing off now. Jumping on a moving tram? Seriously? It's excessive.
[Upbeat music swells as Kincaid actively boards a moving public transit tram to escape gunfire, shooting back effortlessly through the open doors before escaping down toward the canal docks.]
Bryce [00:02:01]: See that? That's what I have to deal with. No planning, no calculations, just total, chaotic luck. Anyway, how much do I owe you for the lawnmower juice?
Listen to the scene and fill in the missing words correctly.
- Elite: A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.
- Excessive: More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate or over the top.
- Unfazed: Not disconcerted or perturbed; remaining completely calm in the face of chaos or danger.
- Ambush: A surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position.
Useful Phrases
Down the toilet : An idiomatic phrase meaning completely ruined, wasted, or lost forever.
Example : When the company went bankrupt, all of his hard work over the last five years went straight down the toilet.
Lucky shot : A successful attempt (often involving hitting a target) that happens mostly because of good fortune or chance rather than pure skill.
Example : I didn't think I could hit the bullseye from this distance, but it was just a lucky shot.
Showing off : To boastfully display one's abilities, wealth, or possessions in order to impress other people.
Example : He was driving around the block with the top down, clearly showing off his brand new sports car.
What does Michael Bryce say his healthy green juice tastes like?
How does Michael Bryce react when a heavy gunfight breaks out across the street?
- The director plays cheerful, soulful music during a violent, chaotic shootout. How does changing the background audio shift the overall mood or comedic value of an action sequence?
- Bryce describes Kincaid's style as "total, chaotic luck." Do you think Kincaid survives purely on luck, or is there a hidden method to his chaotic combat actions?
- Have you ever been so deep in your own personal thoughts or problems that something completely chaotic happening right around you failed to grab your attention?
