It is no secret that writers are struggling to come up with completely original concepts for movies nowadays, with many studios relying heavily upon remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels and more in order to turn a profit. Reboots are a particular minefield. There is always the risk of remaking a franchise too early or too late. They can be terrible (looking at you, Fantastic Four) but they can also be tools to reinvigorate audience interest in older franchises. Just look at Mission: Impossible and the Daniel Craig Bond movies. Both of these are based upon series from the 60s, and have made money by adding a modern twist. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." is the latest series to go through this process, with director Guy Ritchie, most well known for the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films, taking the helm of this project.
Ritchie is consistently praised for the unique style of his films, and for good reason. Consistently well shot, scored and edited, the director has certainly set himself apart from all other Hollywood directors. Fortunately, he continues his streak with this latest effort. The film does perfectly recreates the 60s vibe of the show, featuring an impeccable soundtrack, stunning lighting and an editing style so far unseen this year. The editing harks back to shows such as "24" during the action sequences and manages to keep the audience consistently engaged by keeping up the tension.
The plot of the movie revolves around a CIA agent and a KGB agent being paired together by their respective governments to track down an international terrorist organisation at the height of the Cold War. Unfortunately, the plot is predictable. Although it suits the time period well, audiences have seen this movie's plot a hundred times before: every twist, turn and character arc. What is strange though is the way that the movie has been marketed. Trailers have sold this movie as a film with a great deal of action when it is, in reality, a buddy cop movie, meaning that it focuses much more on laughs instead of adrenaline fuelled. stunts. Having humour is not a bad thing though. The writers have injected doses of humour into almost every part of the film, giving the plot a light-hearted tone throughout.
Due to the film's premise, one of the crucial elements for the crew to get right was the casting of the two lead actors. Once again, they have succeeded at this, with both Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer delivering strong performances. The two have excellent chemistry on screen, with the two contrasting performances, Cavill's suave and sophisticated Napoleon Solo and Hammer's brash and reckless Illya Kuryakin, play very well off of each other.
However, the rest of the cast should not be forgotten, being equally well cast and giving equally good performances. Alicia Vikander is a rising star in 2015, previously starring in "Ex Machina," and next performing alongside Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne in "The Danish Girl." She is once again excellent in this film as the female lead, coming across as strong and interesting as the two leads, while undergoing her own character arcs. Elizabeth Debicki appears as the cold and calculating antagonist for the spies, with the actress doing a particularly good job of giving audiences cause to detest her character. The final supporting cast member I'll mention is Hugh Grant, who finally performs in a role that isn't the bumbling, romantic Brit, with the actor stealing every scene he is in, despite only having a very small screen time.
If you go to see a movie for the action sequences, and the action alone, you absolutely should not see this movie. The writers have opted to focus more on the detective work of the main characters rather than Bond-esque action scenes, filled to the brim with gadgets and ridiculous, over-the-top stunt work. These scenes are in fact few and far between, with only the opening, one boat chase and the finale really standing out, disappointing considering the aforementioned marketing of the film. However, what little action is there is excellently choreographed and highly enjoyable.
Reboots are here to stay. That is a fact of the modern film industry. However, if they keep being made like this, I don't really mind. Although the plot was unfortunately generic with a severe lack of action sequences, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." packs enough humour, excellent acting and style to make it worth seeing. Certainly not the best film of the year so far, but the quality of the film does enough to give me a glimmer of hope for all upcoming revivals Hollywood has planned.
Pros
- Unique style
- Performances
- Chemistry between lead actors
- Good sense of humour
Cons
- Lack of action
- Predictable plot points
Rating: 7/10
Original Release Date: 14th August, 2015
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Starring: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Hugh Grant, Sylvester Groth, Luca Calvani, Jared Harris
No comments:
Post a Comment