Movie Review - The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Director: Guy Ritchie
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzalez, Cary Elwes, Henry Golding, Babs Olusanmokun, Til Schweiger, Rory Kinnear, Freddie Fox, Hero Fiennes Tiffin
 
Description: The British military recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.

Review: Gus March-Phillips is the man commissioned by Winston Churchill to assemble a team that will eventually take part in a dangerous mission off the West African coast. March-Phillips has one demand: his buddy Geoffrey Appleyard must lead the gang of unguided missiles. Small problem: Appleyard has been arrested by the Gestapo and is stuck on the Spanish Island of Palma. But March-Phillips and his team have little trouble taking out an entire battalion.

The first movie that comes to mind when watching “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds”. It has several similarities, but Guy Ritchie’s action film never reaches the same level. It’s a little more lighthearted and frivolous, but still very entertaining, apt, funny, action-packed, has some fun one-liners, a great movie score and a solid cast. And it has a clever, subtle nod to James Bond. I enjoyed it, but “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is not the most memorable film. 

 
Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - Persuasion

Director: Carrie Cracknell
Genre: Romance/ Drama
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Cosmo Jarvis, Henry Golding, Richard E. Grant
 
Description: Eight years after Anne Elliot (Dakota Johnson) was persuaded not to marry a dashing man of humble origins, they meet again. Will she seize her second chance at true love?

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 32: A COSTUME DRAMA

Review: Once again, it’s time for a Jane Austen film adaptation. This time it’s “Persuasion”. Like another recent Austen adaptation, “Emma”, this new incarnation has added a dash of extra humor and sarcasm.

Anne Elliot is still in pain after eight years, not being able to marry her lover because he wasn’t rich enough for her family. The he shows up again, but of course the past is still between them. Anne interferes with herself in conveying these entanglements to the audience, breaking the fourth wall. Not only dies she, for example, tell the audience who the family members are while looking into the camera, but she frequently casts telling glances at the viewers.

The downside of such a distinct is that, alongside previous films and series that employ this kind of device, it quickly becomes apparent that this trick only works if it is applied properly. Now it is merely a tiresome distraction. The dialogues that Anne delivers to catch up with the viewer mostly feel as if the information of the novel is most easily conveyed in this way. The winks towards the camera are just a gimmick, no deeper meaning is attached to them.

“Persuasion” unsuccessfully hitchhikes on the success of other costume dramas. The costumes are fine, but don’t stand out. The dialogues are a somewhat awkward mixture of old-fashioned language and new-fangled expressions. As a result, “Persuasion” seems to be stumbling on two thoughts. This is supported by a pretty standard piano soundtrack and closes with a song by Birdy that manages to evoke more emotion than the rest of the film.

A major problem is the chemistry between Anne and her returned lover Fredrick. Dakota Johnson is a bit out of touch with the movie world due to the choice to have her constantly break the fourth wall, making it hard to sympathize with her. Cosmo Jarvis does not convince with his acting, and looks merely sad, tormented and wooden for most of the film. Henry Golding as Anne’s cousin, stands out much more beside him with his playful, striking personality. But he’s only a side character, with not nearly enough screentime.

Despite attempts to shake things up a bit, “Persuasion” fails to make the viewer sympathize with Anne’s ups and downs. Comedy and the more serious emotional charge do not mix here. So this one can go on the pile of book to movie adaptations we didn’t need. There are better adaptations of this book.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Gentlemen

Director: Guy Ritchie
Genre: Crime/ Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding, Jeremy Strong, Eddie Marsan

Description: An American expat (Matthew McConaughey) tries to sell his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

Review: After directing some more conventional films like “Sherlock Holmes” and “Aladdin”, Guy Ritchie returns with a movie that is more his style. More than 20 years after “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” Ritchie is back with a type of film that he’s best at. It’s a clever, quick and self-written British gangster film that is fast-paced and never has a dull moment.
A lot of the plot elements in this film a recognizable from movies like “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, where it’s about big deals. In “The Gentlemen” this deal is the sale of a British marijuana empire, lead by the American Mickey Pearson. Many people show interest and have their own reasons for it. And that sometimes a machine gun needs to be fired or a fist fight has to happen, only adds to the spectacle.
Like the other aforementioned movies by Ritchie, there are several plots going on. Essential is the one of tabloid journalist and movie director wannabe Fletcher, played by Hugh Grant, who I am thankful for leaving his romcom image aside. He isn’t a gentleman at all and doesn’t mind bribing or blackmailing a drug lord. Fletcher know exactly what is going on in this world and even writes a script for a film. This script is presented to Pearson’s right hand Ray, a gangster played by Charlie Hunnam (these two were definitely my favorite element of the film, they are so good in it). This is the main plot line in the film and is connected with several others. And soon you realize that almost everyone has a double agenda and isn’t as loyal as you might think. A lot of intrigue and betrayal. With that, the film has dry and dark humor, which Ritchie is known for.
The movie might not have the most original story, but if you are a fan of Ritchie’s previous work it won’t bother you. Because it has all the elements that his other crime films had and what make him such a great filmmaker. If you likes “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, you will enjoy “The Gentlemen” as well.

Rating: 4 / 5

Movie Reviews - Last Christmas

Director: Paul Feig
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh

Description: Kate (Emilia Clarke) is a a young woman subscribed to bad decisions. Her last date with disaster? That of having accepted to work as Santa’s elf for a department store. However, she meets Tom (Henry Golding) there. Her life takes a new turn. For Kate, it seems too good to be true.

Review: If there’s one genre that works perfectly with the holidays, it’s the romantic comedy. A good mix of laughs and tears, fortunate misunderstandings, delightful actors and predictable storylines. You are instantly in a better mood with a romcom. But there is a big difference between the disposable romcom that will waste your time and the romcom you will recommend to your friends.
The British film “Last Christmas”, by director Paul Feig, falls in that last category. Feig knows his way around a comedy. He directed the very successful “Bridesmaids” and was also the man behind “Spy”. This time, a little less jokes and a bit more romance. And the most funny moments come from leading character Kate, portrayed by Emilia Clarke.
At a young age, Kate fled Yugoslavia with her mother and sister. Later, she had to undergo a heart transplant and since then she has had a struggling relationship with her family. Kate lost all her ambitions, sleeps on couches of friends and works in a Christmas store in London. One day, she sees Tom and from that moment on Kate’s life takes a turn.
The film starts like any other romcom, with opposites and attraction. Kate isn’t really looking to take walks with Tom. But later she can’t wait to see him again.
At first, you feel like it’s going to be a sugar sweet film, filled with cheesy romance. But Feig keeps his characters realistic, by portraying Kate as both charming and egocentric.
There is a huge twist in the film, but somehow I saw it coming. The film has predictability and clichés, but they didn’t really bother me. Overall, “Last Christmas” is a joyful and easy watch. Due to the twist it’s different from most films in its genre.

Rating: 3/ 5