The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a film by Guy Ritchie and is based off of the classic TV series of the same name. The movie stars Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Groth, Hugh Grant, and Jared Harris.
The Story:
Two of the best secret agents in the world, Solo (Cavill) from the U.S. and Illya (Hammer) from Russia, are forced to work together during the height of tensions between the two countries so they can put an end to a nefarious criminal organization.
The Review:
The probably the shortest synopsis I've written in one of my reviews although the movie really doesn't need any more explanation than that. What we have here is a fun and stylish homage to early Bond spy movies and especially the Roger Moore era which probably had the most tongue in cheek swagger as any of them. Guy Ritchie really pours it on thick trying to make his movie as cool as possible. In some ways it works and in others it just doesn't feel right because the story and it's leading men just aren't able to keep up with all the splash.
Aside from Alicia Vikander who, between this film and Ex Machina, has elevated herself to immediate "it girl" status, the the cast is just kind of there and seems to get overwhelmed by all the fancy camera work and funky soundtrack that Ritchie constantly throws at the audience. A lot of people are raving about the soundtrack and its funky throwback vibe and, for the most part I agree but, just like the rest of the film, it is a very mixed bag of hits and misses.
The Verdict:
Did I like The Man from U.N.C.L.E.? Yes. Is it a film I will remember a month from now? Probably not. At the end of the film, there is an obvious set up for potential sequels (you actually see some of the scene in the trailer!) although I'm not sure if it will do well enough to warrant any additional effort. Basically, this is summer popcorn fun that you don't really have to put much thought into either before, during, or after the film.
I did not see this movie in IMAX although it was not filmed using IMAX cameras so there is really no value at all in the upgrade. CLICK HERE to check out my Seattle area theater comparison and how to get the most bang for your buck if you choose to see this film.
No comments:
Post a Comment