Year: 2015
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alica Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, and Hugh Grant
Tagline: Saving the world never goes out of style
Synopsis: When a criminal organization gets its hands on a atomic bomb, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin must team up to stop them.
Tagline: Saving the world never goes out of style
Synopsis: When a criminal organization gets its hands on a atomic bomb, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin must team up to stop them.
Review
Although I watched many a 60s TV show as a kid, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was not one of them. I'd heard of it. That is all. So I went into the film with no preconceived notions.
It is unfortunate that The Man from U.N.C.L.E. came out on the heels of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. It thus fell under the radar and has fallen victim to comparison. Of the two, M:I5 wins. Hands down. No question. But that doesn't make U.N.C.L.E. any less fun to watch.
One of the best things The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has going for it is its setting. Rather than contemporize it, the film takes place in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War. The nostalgic, retro feel helps set it apart from all the other spy movies this year. It also necessitates that the film not rely heavily on the espionage trope of gadgets. There is probably more technological wizardry in 5 minutes of M:I5 than in all of U.N.C.L.E. As much as I love geek-out gadgets, it is a welcome change to see special agents not relying on them.
Although not as edge of your seat as M:I5, U.N.C.L.E. does deliver in the thrills department, with all the requisite car chases, shootouts, and explosions. Much of the film is also set against the gorgeous backdrop of Italy. Director Guy Ritchie has a very visual style. If you've seen either of his Sherlock Holmes films, you know what I mean. It's hard to describe, but quite fun to watch.
As stylish as the movie is, there's not a lot beneath it. The plot could well be an extended TV episode. It brings nothing new to the espionage table. And all the style in the world can't cover the plot holes. Style is great, but there should be more substance to go with it.
The two main characters are Napoleon Solo of the CIA and Illya Kuryakin of the KGB (or "Cowboy" and "Red Peril" as they dub each other). The two are complete opposites and thus make for an enjoyable duo to watch. Solo is a dashing, suave, womanizing, semi-reformed thief (basically the 60s spy version of Neal Caffrey from TV's White Collar). Kuryakin is quiet, stern, intense, and given to lashing out when provoked. Watching the two of them go from foes to reluctant partners to allies is one of the most fun parts of the film.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has a good share of humor, though some of it is a darker humor than you'd find in Mission:Impossible. U.N.C.L.E. is also a bit risque. As mentioned, Solo is a womanizer. I haven't seen a James Bond film in a very long time, so I can't compare. If you've seen other Guy Ritchie films, you can probably guess the level of risque, and also the level of violence.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is by no means a film for everyone, due to some of its darker elements. But I found it to be a very fun, very stylish film. It's too bad it favors style over substance. If you want to see a first rate spy film, see Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. If you want to also see a second rate but still fun spy film, see The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
It is unfortunate that The Man from U.N.C.L.E. came out on the heels of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. It thus fell under the radar and has fallen victim to comparison. Of the two, M:I5 wins. Hands down. No question. But that doesn't make U.N.C.L.E. any less fun to watch.
One of the best things The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has going for it is its setting. Rather than contemporize it, the film takes place in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War. The nostalgic, retro feel helps set it apart from all the other spy movies this year. It also necessitates that the film not rely heavily on the espionage trope of gadgets. There is probably more technological wizardry in 5 minutes of M:I5 than in all of U.N.C.L.E. As much as I love geek-out gadgets, it is a welcome change to see special agents not relying on them.
Although not as edge of your seat as M:I5, U.N.C.L.E. does deliver in the thrills department, with all the requisite car chases, shootouts, and explosions. Much of the film is also set against the gorgeous backdrop of Italy. Director Guy Ritchie has a very visual style. If you've seen either of his Sherlock Holmes films, you know what I mean. It's hard to describe, but quite fun to watch.
As stylish as the movie is, there's not a lot beneath it. The plot could well be an extended TV episode. It brings nothing new to the espionage table. And all the style in the world can't cover the plot holes. Style is great, but there should be more substance to go with it.
The two main characters are Napoleon Solo of the CIA and Illya Kuryakin of the KGB (or "Cowboy" and "Red Peril" as they dub each other). The two are complete opposites and thus make for an enjoyable duo to watch. Solo is a dashing, suave, womanizing, semi-reformed thief (basically the 60s spy version of Neal Caffrey from TV's White Collar). Kuryakin is quiet, stern, intense, and given to lashing out when provoked. Watching the two of them go from foes to reluctant partners to allies is one of the most fun parts of the film.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has a good share of humor, though some of it is a darker humor than you'd find in Mission:Impossible. U.N.C.L.E. is also a bit risque. As mentioned, Solo is a womanizer. I haven't seen a James Bond film in a very long time, so I can't compare. If you've seen other Guy Ritchie films, you can probably guess the level of risque, and also the level of violence.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is by no means a film for everyone, due to some of its darker elements. But I found it to be a very fun, very stylish film. It's too bad it favors style over substance. If you want to see a first rate spy film, see Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. If you want to also see a second rate but still fun spy film, see The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Quotable Quotes
- "For a special agent, you're not having a very special day, are you?" -- Waverly
- "What does that [a statement in Russian] mean?" "He said, 'Don't kill your new partner on the first day.'" "I know what he said. What does it mean?" -- Napoleon Solo and Sanders
- "Did you disable the alarm?" "There's no alarm on [this model of safe]." [An alarm starts to blare] "Loving your work, Cowboy." -- Illya Kuryakin and Napoleon Solo
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