Review of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) by Mark A — 08 Jul 2016

Finally got round to seeing 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' I will say from the off I am not a huge fan of Guy Ritchie. I find his films very superficial and fussy. The stylistic touches and tricks seem to me to obstruct you from really getting into the film. Everything is so flippant that it seems non-existent and vague. Also he seems to take a subject and then make something that has nothing to do with it. He did that with Sherlock Holmes. For all the playing lip-surface to it being more faithful to the Conan Doyle stories, it was publicity bullshit, It wasn't. Sherlock is not a franchise action hero. He is much more cerebral in than that.

So he kind of did the same with U.N.C.L.E. It wasn't U.N.C.L.E. and for a while the same overwrought technique yet again annoyed me. It reminded me of those really awful 'Charlie's Angels' films. Like adverts or computer games, not real movies.

But what it was, was a lovely hymn to the style of the 60's. More specifically the movie 60's. Especially Antonioni and Bava and especially 'Danger: Diabolik' by Bava. Another strong inspiration must have been Losey's 'Modesty Blaise,' which incidentally is another film that annoys me intensely.

But after a while I did really start to enjoy it and kind of relaxed into it. I though both the leads were fairly wooden and uncharismatic (thank god Cavill didn't get Bond) but both the woman were great. Alicia Vikander who was also wonderful in 'Ex Machina' and especially Elizabeth Debicki.

The cinematography was gorgeous and very lush like Mario Bava. The sets and especially the costumes are absolutely beautiful. Better suits than the current Bond....and I loved the music, coolest soundtrack of the year.

So considering I normally can't stand Guy Ritchie and I still think he overdoes it, it was kind of enjoyable. But please keep his hand of Bond, because the last time someone overdid the style in a Bond we got 'Quantum.'.