Review 364: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Based on the original 60's Spy Tv Series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s period of the Cold War, the film centers on U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement) agents Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). The two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization led by Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki), which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is Gaby Teller (Alicia Vickander), the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time utilizing her connections and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.
Firstly I just want to say that I'm only vaguely familiar with the original The Man from U.N.C.L.E. TV Series: I know a bit about the show and characters I've watched enough of the show that it is a bit dated by todays standards.
Now the overall plot is simple but effective. However The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is not the sort of film that’s concerned with plot but really mainly succeeds at being a fun, lighthearted
There are a lot of spy/action movies out in the world today, they all look pretty similar and they all look pretty boring. But The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is something a bit different.
Firstly, it's a period based, which puts it in a historic setting, so it establishes it's own universe and reality and destinguishes itself from other comparable spy movie franchises such as The Bourne Trilogy, the Mission Impossible, Die Hard and James Bond movies.
Secondly, it has comedic elements in it, but it never strays into spoof movie landscape akin to Austin Powers and the whole products then descends into a farce, but some lighthearted elements in an action adventure.
You can really tell that water/director Guy Ritchie wanted to tribute/honour the spy movies of the 60's as opposed to parodying them and for the most part it works.
The basic plotting (at the hands of Ritchie and Producer Lionel Wigram) seems intentional because they’re aware that's the sort of entertainment people liked in those days. The satire isn't as strong as Kingsman: The Secret Service but then again it's not trying to be. It's more of a homage than a satire.
Guy Ritchie's direction is stylish and sharp, the cinemargraphy is beautiful and captures the class and the colonies of the 60's, the production design (recreating the 60's) is completely excellent, the costumes are colourful, the score by Daniel Pemberton is cool and sophisticated and beautifully calls back to the Jazz infused era of spy scores composed by John Barry and Henry Mancini. The action scenes are exciting, expertly staged, well choreographed and lively, it's fast paced, the jokes hit hard and the effects are terrific.
It's a triumph for the acting, Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer play their roles superbly, Cavill plays the classic, cool American spy, he was very swauve, he was very charismatic and has a good sense of humour.
Armie Hammer is also strong and powerful as Illya Kuryakin, he was very intimidating and menacing which leads to a lot of the funnier moments mainly because he keeps screwing up and the two of them work off each other really well.
Alicia Vickander is very feisty and lively in this film, she's not just the obligatory love interest who needs to be saved every 5 mins, she's a car mechanic, she's strong willed, she's independent, she's resourceful, she's not just along for the ride.
Elizabeth Debicki plays what essentially amounts to an evil Paris Hilton (as critic Alonso Duralde rather eloquently put it)
well she was an alright villain, he character is defiantly no the most deep or complex villain, but at least she looked like she was enjoying playing a villainous character.
Hugh Grant isn't really in the film that much, he only appeared in a handful of scenes
just pops up every now and then to give exposition or orders, it just looks like he was there for three of four days worth of filming before they let him go, but nevertheless he lays his own mark on the film in his usual charismatic and charming way.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a spy thriller more shaken than stirred, 4/5.
The Anonymous Critic.
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