Twenty-three-year-old Will Smith faces off against fifty-year-old Will Smith, and the result is breathtaking. After decades of uncanny valley, Hollywood has perfected de-ageing.

Languishing in development hell for over twenty years, Gemini Man was finally completed when the technology was ready to fully realise director Ang Lee’s vision. A high-concept premise perfectly suited to his light, high-energy style, topped here with a charismatic leading man and heart-thumping action.

Henry Brogan, the greatest assassin of his generation, is done. But his one-time mentor Clay Verris (Clive Owen) has other ideas. Years earlier, Clay isolated Henry’s DNA and created a clone of his prodigy. And the only way to truly test his creation – a twenty-three-year-old called Junior (also played by Smith, integrating mo-cap for a seamless result) – is to have him murder the original.

Facing a much younger and more resilient version of himself, Henry must use every skill borne from thirty years of experience to survive.

As cinema skews so heavily to monster carnage and Marvel superheroes, Gemini Man is set to be the most original action franchise of the decade. It’s good to be excited about Will Smith again; now two for the price of one.

Uncanny Valley

Will Smith’s Junior is near-perfect. But there were a lot of attempts before we got there…

Ian McKellen & Patrick Stewart (X Men: Last Stand)

Great ambition, but creepy even in the wide shots. Super-powered waxworks.

Jeff Bridges (Tron: Legacy)

This once-impressive example hasn’t aged well. Cold, vacant eyes.

Robert Downey Jr. (Captain America: Civil War)

Nearly there. Great at a distance, but close-ups & dialogue a little unsettling.

Brad Pitt (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button)

Hugely impressive for the year. Fincher masterfully uses lighting to help hide any flaws.

Kurt Russell (Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2)

Natural movement and real emotion, even in the eyes. Young, old, or CGI, we love you, Kurt.