Review 282: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Set two years after the events of The Avengers, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) resides peacefully in Washington, D.C., struggling to adapt to contemporary society. However, after a S.H.I.E.L.D. compatriot is assailed, Steve becomes entangled in a mystery that may endanger the globe.
Together with Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America attempts to uncover the growing machination while fending off hired hit men. When the entire scheme is discovered, Captain America and the Black Widow must recruit the aid of Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and soon encounter an unanticipated and powerful adversary — the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) who may or may not have a connection to Cap's past.
The plot has all the element of a superhero movie, but it's wrapped up in all the genre elements of a political/conspiracy thriller such as corruption, espionage and trust.
We get a closer and deeper insight into the world of S.H.I.E.L.D. were we discover some pretty dark secret about the organisation.
The film also says a lot about the balance of security and freedom as well as delving into ideas of trust and how far we've come from the 1940's.
In regards to comic book inspirations, the film primarily draws heavily from the Winter Soldier arc by Ed Brubaker but it also features elements inspired by the Secrets Invasion and Secret Warriors storylines in regards to certain reveals surounding S.H.I.E.L.D. later in the film along with elements from the Nick Fury vs S.H.I.E.L.D. miniseries.
Corruption: What Captain America: The Winter Soldier does really well is show us the dark side of politics and how corrupt politicians can be, S.H.I.E.L.D. is planning to launch these Helicarriers that use targeted killings to predict crime before it happens and Rogers doesn't agree with it. He say's it himself "This isn't freedom this is fear." It shows that the people who you think are benevolent, benign and looking after your best interest are in fact doing something that is creeping and insidious and you get a strong sense that this could actually be happening right now thanks to things such as 9/11 and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also shows how chaotic the world has become in recent years, since Caps heyday thanks to events such as Kennedy's assassination, the Iranian Revolution and the 1980 rescission and Caps reaction to it and how he adapts to said world.
Espionage: Captain America: The Winter Soldier is primarily an espionage, political and conspiracy film. Captain America and the Black Widow are on their own and have no one to turn to other than Falcon. They have to figure out whats going on, without any inside information, it's a Fugitive/Bourne type of adventure they go on.
Balance of Security and Freedom: S.H.I.E.L.D. plans to initiate project Insight and Rogers objects. Freedom is important in the world because ordinary people have to be allowed to do as they please without any interference from people while also maintaining a sense of security with people like the police preventing, violence and crime.
Trust: Captain America and Black Widow are two members of S.H.I.E.L.D. with very different motives, Roger's has a very strong moral code whereas Black Widow lies for a living and to put those two into a situation where they have to trust each other is really intense. Weird things start happening around Roger's he's not sure who he can trust and Fury tells him to trust no one. Trusting someone is a tricky dilemma, especially in the world of espionage, you don't know who's working for who, you're scared for your friends and yourself and you don't know who to confide in. For all you know the person sitting at the desk next to you could in fact be a spy.
Sometimes when things turn bad, trusting a stranger is the way to go, which is why Cap and Widow turn to Falcon for help.
How far we've come from the 1940's: Back in 1940 you had to rely on people and make plans, no had CD's or VHS' or DVD's or Blu Ray's, or iPod's, iPads, no video streaming. Whereas now, we we have all that stuff.
Now, however, we're facing big threats such as Bin Laden in the wake of 9/11 making the threat of terrorism even greater.
Because of this, Senior S.H.I.E.L.D. officer Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) wants to proactively & preemptively annihilate potential threats with Targeted killings as part of Project Insight before they strike.
Stylistically, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is very much like a Bourne movie, lots of hand-held camerawork, lots of martial arts inspired action scenes, a hero with identity crisis on the run, lots of practical effects and stunt work as well as lots of dubious politics and I'm positive that it was a huge influence on the film itself.
Screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus have also cited the 1975 political film, Three Days of the Condor, as a major influence behind the story structure of following the idea that the protagonist is being chased by a threat they, along with the audience, only discover halfway through the film.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo's direction is brilliant, it's fast paced, the cinematography is terrific and gets the films tone right, the score by Henry Jackman is stupendous, the action scenes are exciting, engaging, expertly staged and well choreographed, the locations are excellent - the Washington DC setting feels grounded in politics and .
The special effects are fantastic, there are some great touches of humor, the stunts are astonishing, the production design is fantanstic, the S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ the Triskelion itself is a sort of Pentagon-meets-a-modern building, so it's not as low hanging as the Pentagon structure but it's taller than any building in D.C.; it lords over the rest of the skyline. The costumes are brilliant, the props are well crafted, the make is rich and the twists are jawdroping.
The acting is terrific, Chris Evans is even better than he was in The First Avenger. This is mostly due to him feeling more relaxed in the role.
Since The Avengers, Steve Rogers has settled down in Washington and now works for S.H.I.E.L.D. But he's also got a lot of inner turmoil having to adjust to 21st Century life, it's not just his shock at how much technology has progressed since the 40's. It's more about societal differences.
He's gone from the 40's to today. He comes from a world where people where a little more trusting, the threats wearan't as deep amd where things in general wearn't as morally grey as they are now. Nowadays it's harder to tell who's right and wrong.
Actions you take to protect people could compromise liberties and privacy and Steve finds that hard to swallow. Whereas the rest of the world moved on, Steve remained frozen, both figuratively and literally.
Overall, I loved Steve Roger's (mental) journey in the film. He's still adjusting to 21st century life, is now working for S.H.I.E.L.D. but is not really comfortable with the way they handle situations.
He has a very strong moral code and is suspicious of peoples' motives when they approach him.
To go from being a war veteran to being a superhero in 21st century is quite a leap, as well as losing everyone you've known and loved which is a heavy burden. His story is essentially a continuation of the journey he started in The Avengers.
This is not an easy act to pull off, but Evans met the challenge magnificently and is arguably some of the best material he has ever had up to this point.
I will admit I would have liked a bit more character interactions between him and The Winter Soldier consider the characters background in the comics instead of getting brief glimpses of his alter ego. But at the end of the day it's just a minor flaw.
Also it's not every day you see a hero return for a sequel and the supporting cast is virtually different from its predecessor. I'm just saying.
Scarlett Johansson is terrific again as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, this time we get to see more of her as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and what skills it demands of her which is really interesting. She lies to people for a living, lives in the grey. That's what she does, which makes her the polar opposite to Captain America. He tells the truth. She's incredibly modern, not very reverent and just very straightforward whereas Steve is more reserved and has a moral centre whereas her moral centre moves.
Give them a problem and they'll have different ways of approaching it. She's pushing him to modernise and he's pushing her to add a certain level of integrity to her life.
In this film we see a playful and relaxed Black Widow which is understandable, she's completely in her element in this world of espionage and has Captain America by her side. She vicariously lives her social life through Captain America, constantly trying to get him a date. Just because her life of espionage prevents her from having a love life, it doesn't mean she doesn't want one.
By a series of unfortunate encounters, they find themselves in a situation in which their friendship becomes more intimate. They share many similarities because they live on the defensive without relying on anyone. Also, the two of them have been working for the government throughout their professional careers. With their friendship they begin to question what they want and what their true identity is.
Evans and Johansson just play their roles superbly, their banter together when they're on a job is not only very funny but it helps to make them feel more like real people. They're comradely is simply superb and brilliantly realised on screen and the two of them work really well off of each other.
Since the Battle of New York, they've been tasked on many different missions together. They've gotten to know each other a bit better.
Anthony Mackie makes for a terrific addion to the MCU as Sam Wilson/Falcon; He's a really smart guy and a Pararescuemen who has gone through loads of rigourous training with the US Air Force who helps Cap adjust to his new life in 21st Century life in a very PTSD therapy kind of way and he trusts Cap. because he believes him and holds similar ideologies to his.
He knows what he's been through - he and Cap share a lot of the same ideals. Both men are post-war veterans who lost their partners and dealing with those ramifications and who are in desperate need of a mission, so they instantly relate to each other as a result.
Because he's a Pararescuemen, he helps to draw Cap into the modern world and helps him realise that he's not out there on the island on his own. He helps him realise that other people have the same dreams and problems that he has and Sam can empathise with the idea of what he's going through.
Additionally Evans and Mackie chemistry was one of the main highlights of this film. I loved their camaraderie and bromance esque relationship and I thought the two of them worked really well off of each other.
Sebastian Stan is cool as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. He's silent, cold, determined, intimidating, he's a man of very few words. But he's also Steve's sold friend, Bucky who has been brainwashed and has been following order for more than 70 years with no memory of who he really is. You really do get the sense it's what a bad Captain America could have been as he's almost Terminator like and so singlemindedly focused on his assignement. But as a whole, he feels like more of a presence than an actual threat the fallout of the reveal on Steve needed more food for thought.
Cobie Smulders is also wonderful again as Maria Hill, as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent she's very tough-minded and by the book as well as extremely loyal to Nick Fury. In this film, those loyalties are put to the test as she's forced to make tough choices to do what's right and help Cap and his allies.
Emily VanCamp proves herself to be a well chosen (albeit underused) recruit to the MCU in the role of Sharon Carter, she's an up-and-comer within S.H.I.E.L.D. She's very hard working, driven and passionate about what she does and is not afraid to speak out when ethics are changed. She defiantly has a very high opinion and belief of Cap. which is why she stands up for him when he's accused of treason.
Frank Grillo is also a strong presence here - both physically and verbally - as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones playing both fiercely loyal, cocky agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a strong attitude and the tough, ruthlessly efficient and determined henchmen he turns out to be. His presence alone is just imposing and over the course of the film, he proves to be one formidable threat to Captain America and his allies.
Robert Redford is magnificent as senior S.H.I.E.L.D. member Alexander Pierce, in fact this might be one of his best performances in recent years.
The most interesting part of his performance is how calm and collected he is, panic and gunfights may be happening left and right and yet he remains as cool a cucumber.
He exudes smugness and enigma as this character. He is also paranoid and corrupt which Redford portrays really well.
But possibly the best part about him is that he genuinely thinks he's doing the right thing, he thinks that by making the world forsake it's freedom in favour of dictatorship, he can bring about world peace and he'll stop at nothing to make that happen. He believes that the ends justify the means.
There even moments in this film where you're think "You know? I might see his point of view."
Samuel L. Jackson is fab as usual as Nick Fury, almost every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie in some sense. He even has to ask if he's lying to himself? He has a very good idea of whats going on but his paranoia prevents him from believing some of it. It's also great to hear him talk to Captain America in terms of being able to speak to him soldier to soldier and try to explain to him how the world has changed in another way while he was frozen in time. In a lot of ways they're very similar, they both have trust issues, they've both been on the front line and they've seen battles and lost friends. That relationship is greatly explored and furthered in this film.
Usually Fury is the one in control of a situation, he holds all the cards, he knows how to lie, cheat and manipulate in order to get results. Here the carpet has be pulled out from under him, so we get to see a more desperate and vulnerable Nick Fury which also serves as a great opportunity to see all his skills and resourcefulness at play.
We even get a minor appearance from Hayley Atwell as a much older Peggy Carter which is as equally touching as it is heartbreaking to watch. Her portrayal of said character is simply mesmerising and the make up is astonishing. With her brief albeit significant appearance, you get the sense that she's a person who's lived a long and fulfilling life which puts her at a great contrast with Steve who has been deprived the possibility of sharing that with her. She serves as the tragic side of Steve story and journey.
In addition, Maximiliano Hernandez (Returning as Jasper Sitwell), Garry Shandling, Callan Mulvey & Toby Jones round out the massive cast of this film, all of whom deliver fine performances.
Can't wait for Civil War, 4.5/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
Emily VanCamp proves herself to be a well chosen (albeit underused) recruit to the MCU in the role of Sharon Carter, she's an up-and-comer within S.H.I.E.L.D. She's very hard working, driven and passionate about what she does and is not afraid to speak out when ethics are changed. She defiantly has a very high opinion and belief of Cap. which is why she stands up for him when he's accused of treason.
Frank Grillo is also a strong presence here - both physically and verbally - as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones playing both fiercely loyal, cocky agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a strong attitude and the tough, ruthlessly efficient and determined henchmen he turns out to be. His presence alone is just imposing and over the course of the film, he proves to be one formidable threat to Captain America and his allies.
Robert Redford is magnificent as senior S.H.I.E.L.D. member Alexander Pierce, in fact this might be one of his best performances in recent years.
The most interesting part of his performance is how calm and collected he is, panic and gunfights may be happening left and right and yet he remains as cool a cucumber.
He exudes smugness and enigma as this character. He is also paranoid and corrupt which Redford portrays really well.
But possibly the best part about him is that he genuinely thinks he's doing the right thing, he thinks that by making the world forsake it's freedom in favour of dictatorship, he can bring about world peace and he'll stop at nothing to make that happen. He believes that the ends justify the means.
There even moments in this film where you're think "You know? I might see his point of view."
Samuel L. Jackson is fab as usual as Nick Fury, almost every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie in some sense. He even has to ask if he's lying to himself? He has a very good idea of whats going on but his paranoia prevents him from believing some of it. It's also great to hear him talk to Captain America in terms of being able to speak to him soldier to soldier and try to explain to him how the world has changed in another way while he was frozen in time. In a lot of ways they're very similar, they both have trust issues, they've both been on the front line and they've seen battles and lost friends. That relationship is greatly explored and furthered in this film.
Usually Fury is the one in control of a situation, he holds all the cards, he knows how to lie, cheat and manipulate in order to get results. Here the carpet has be pulled out from under him, so we get to see a more desperate and vulnerable Nick Fury which also serves as a great opportunity to see all his skills and resourcefulness at play.
We even get a minor appearance from Hayley Atwell as a much older Peggy Carter which is as equally touching as it is heartbreaking to watch. Her portrayal of said character is simply mesmerising and the make up is astonishing. With her brief albeit significant appearance, you get the sense that she's a person who's lived a long and fulfilling life which puts her at a great contrast with Steve who has been deprived the possibility of sharing that with her. She serves as the tragic side of Steve story and journey.
In addition, Maximiliano Hernandez (Returning as Jasper Sitwell), Garry Shandling, Callan Mulvey & Toby Jones round out the massive cast of this film, all of whom deliver fine performances.
The Anonymous Critic.
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