Based upon declassified files of The British War Department back in 2016, and inspired by true events, this is an action-comedy that tells the story of the first-ever special forces organization formed during WWII by UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear) and a small group of military officials including Marjorie Stewart (Eiza Gonzalez), Richard Heron (Babs Olusanmokun) and author Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox). The top-secret combat unit, composed of a motley crew of rogues and mavericks including Gus March Phillips (Henry Cavill),Geoffrey Appleyard (Alex Pettyfer), Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson), Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding) and Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), goes on a daring mission against the Nazis using entirely unconventional and utterly "ungentlemanly" fighting techniques. Ultimately their audacious approach changed the course of the war and laid the foundation for the British SAS and modern Black Ops warfare.
Others to round out the cast are Cary Elwes as Brigadier Gubbins, Til Schweiger as Heinrich Luhr, James Wilby as Viscount Algernon, Henrique Zaga as Captain Bines, Danny Sapani as Billy and Matthew Hawksley as Sir Percy.
This was brilliantly directed by the incomparable Guy Ritcie ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" '98, "Snatch" 2000, "Swept Away" '02, "Revolver" '05, "Suspect" (TV movie) '07, "RocknRolla" '08, "Sherlock Holmes" '09, "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" '11, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." '15, "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" '17, "Aladdin" '19, "The Gentlemen" '19, "Wrath of Man" '21, "Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre" '23, "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant" '23) plus music videos, TV, videos and shorts. As with Ritchie's other projects, this film was created in his usual slick, quick edited, stylized format that has truly become his trademark. Three minutes into a film, I can tell whether it is directed by Ritchie or not--he is that distinct. This filmmaker simply knows how to tell a story by the way the film is shot and cut--it definitively gives that feeling that the audience is waiting for more. If you like this director's distinct style, his "In the Grey" is in post-production. It was equally well written by Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Arash Amel and Guy Ritchie, based on the book by Damien Lewis. I can surely understand why this film was powerfully written considering the extensive experience all of these writers obtain. Usually my belief is that if there is more than two writers involved on any one film, the script has a tendency to become bogged down and confusing--too many cooks in the kitchen perhaps, but since these writers are as exemplary as they are, the added assistance only enhanced the story. The editing by James Herbert and the photography by Ed Wild bsc was also incredible and simply added to this story.
I'm sure glad there was a 'based on a true story'disclaimer at the beginning of this, because the story and these men were so unorthodox in their methods of fighting, it was difficult to grasp that it was true. If you're a Ritchie fan as I am, you'll love this--it is quintessential Ritchie. It was thrilling and humorous from beginning to end.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 120mins.
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