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The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015): A Review
Woefully underappreciated during it’s theatrical release, I finally had a chance to check out The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on VOD over this weekend, and I have to say - we all really missed out.
Directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes), after a long and ardous trip to the big screen, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an incredibly stylish retro spy flick. Starring Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) as CIA agent Napoleon Solo, the film takes our sly agent and places him in an unheard of situation in the Cold War - teaming with a Russian agent, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer, he of Winklevoss Twin fame in The Social Network).
Why the cooperation between the USA and Russia? Nazi’s of course. Solo and Kuryakin are chosen to protect Gaby Teller (Ex-Machina’s Alicia Vikander). Teller is the daughter of an ex-Nazi scientist turned American informant, Udo Teller, who is in too deep with the Vinciguerra’s, a wealthy couple who intend to build a nuclear weapon to assist the remaining members of the Nazi party.
But, really - who cares? It’s all about the action and style in this fun, flighty romp of a movie. (And honestly, I had to look back to be able to recite that level of the plot. Even the cast seems apt to just go along for the ride.) What The Man from U.N.C.L.E. really is, is an excuse for Ritchie and his cast to have some 1960’s era, super cool looking, super cool sounding spy fun, and with that in mind, the movie completely succeeds.
Running a brisk 116 minutes, we move from stylish set-piece to stylish set-piece, slowly down only to take in scenes of 1960’s era Europe (beautifully shot by cinematographer John Mathieson), and enjoy some dry laughs from witty dialogue, provided by Lionel Wigram, who co-wrote with Ritchie. It’s all set to a wonderful score by Daniel Pemberton, and is sure to leave you feeling delighted.
This isn’t a movie that re-defines spy films, nor is it one that will last long in your brain, but it is one that you’ll have a blast with. Sure, the ending is a little overblown, but the ride there is so delightful, it’s hard to be bothered.
Available on VOD, DVD and Blu-Ray now, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a good time of a movie worth taking in. If you want something fun for a breezy weekend watch, this is the one to check out. Enjoy.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is available now on VOD (iTunes, Amazon), and on DVD or Blu-Ray.
Saturday December 12, 2015