by Josh Sewell
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
(Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language. Opens in theaters April 19.)
Inspired by true events, director Guy Ritchie’s homage (let’s go with that instead of “rip-off”) to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is an action-comedy that tells the story of the British special forces organization formed during World War II by Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear).
The Prime Minister and his trusted advisor (Cary Elwes) select a team of rogues and mavericks (including Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusamokun, Henrique Zaga and Henry Golding) to embark on a top-secret mission against the Nazis (including Til Schweiger as the main antagonist). Their unorthodox methods changed the course of the war and inspired fellow team member Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox) to write a series of novels about a daring spy named James Bond. You’ve probably heard of him.
Ritchie (who co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson and Arash Amel, based on Damien Lewis’ book) definitely knows his way around action scenes and oddball characters, so the flick is never dull. However, the overly convoluted plot gets so chaotic – pinballing around to multiple locations, missions and protagonists – that it’s impossible to connect to anyone. That ends up dramatically reducing the personal stakes.
Despite having to use IMDb to remember their characters’ names, Cavill, Ritchson and González stand out the most. It’s clear that everyone’s having a blast playing dress-up and killing Nazis (there are worse ways to earn a paycheck, right?), but those three seem to understand most what kind of movie they’re in.
Granted, if Ungentlemanly Warfare does well enough, there’s a chance that sequels could allow the actors to flesh out their roles and allow viewers to establish a stronger bond with them. The film concludes with an amusing scene hinting at future adventures, while the end credits indicate the real historical figures embarked on plenty of other missions that could fuel a follow-up or two.
Grade: B-
STEVE! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces
(Rated TV-MA, contains strong language and thematic elements. Now available on Apple TV+.)
Morgan Neville, one of the all-time great documentarians, tackles the genius of Steve Martin, one of the all-time great comedians, in this uniquely structured film. Clocking in at three hours, Steve! is split into two sections. “Then” covers Martin’s childhood through his revolutionary stand-up career, while “Now” focuses primarily on his current life, his reflections on the movie career he began after retiring from stand-up, his passion for art collecting, and his commitment to his family.
Considered together, Steve! is probably the most we’ll ever learn about the enigmatic, intensely private Martin – which admittedly isn’t much. Even old friends like Tina Fey and Diane Keaton admit they’re not quite sure who the “real” man is, despite having immense love and respect for him.
After three hours, viewers won’t know much more, but allowing Neville’s cameras to follow him around is clearly a big step for him. Perhaps the biggest revelation is how much he’s willing to open up about his difficult relationship with his father. As origin stories go, it’s pretty common; still, it recontextualizes a lot of choices Martin makes over the course of his life.
Longtime fans won’t be surprised by much of Steve! However, those who only know the complex artist for the family movies he made later in his career (Father of the Bride, Cheaper by the Dozen, etc.) are in for some fairly big revelations. He kept photos, journals and videos from a young age, which Neville utilizes throughout all three hours to astonishing effect.
“Then” is a bit stronger than “Now,” but viewing them as a singular text demonstrates how much Martin has evolved as performer throughout his seven decades(!) in show business. He has always been fiercely intelligent (and, yes, somewhat aloof), but you can see how much he’s mellowed since becoming a husband and father. Plus, there’s his close friendship with frequent collaborator Martin Short, who plays a substantial role in the documentary’s second half.
It’s that aspect of “Now” that could prove divisive. Martin takes the project seriously, but Short seems to be “on” all the time, constantly taking advantage of the cameras. Granted, that could be because he’s not around Neville and his crew nearly as much, but the difference is jarring.
Grade: B
(Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language. Opens in theaters April 19.)
Inspired by true events, director Guy Ritchie’s homage (let’s go with that instead of “rip-off”) to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is an action-comedy that tells the story of the British special forces organization formed during World War II by Winston Churchill (Rory Kinnear).
The Prime Minister and his trusted advisor (Cary Elwes) select a team of rogues and mavericks (including Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusamokun, Henrique Zaga and Henry Golding) to embark on a top-secret mission against the Nazis (including Til Schweiger as the main antagonist). Their unorthodox methods changed the course of the war and inspired fellow team member Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox) to write a series of novels about a daring spy named James Bond. You’ve probably heard of him.
Ritchie (who co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson and Arash Amel, based on Damien Lewis’ book) definitely knows his way around action scenes and oddball characters, so the flick is never dull. However, the overly convoluted plot gets so chaotic – pinballing around to multiple locations, missions and protagonists – that it’s impossible to connect to anyone. That ends up dramatically reducing the personal stakes.
Despite having to use IMDb to remember their characters’ names, Cavill, Ritchson and González stand out the most. It’s clear that everyone’s having a blast playing dress-up and killing Nazis (there are worse ways to earn a paycheck, right?), but those three seem to understand most what kind of movie they’re in.
Granted, if Ungentlemanly Warfare does well enough, there’s a chance that sequels could allow the actors to flesh out their roles and allow viewers to establish a stronger bond with them. The film concludes with an amusing scene hinting at future adventures, while the end credits indicate the real historical figures embarked on plenty of other missions that could fuel a follow-up or two.
Grade: B-
(Rated TV-MA, contains strong language and thematic elements. Now available on Apple TV+.)
Morgan Neville, one of the all-time great documentarians, tackles the genius of Steve Martin, one of the all-time great comedians, in this uniquely structured film. Clocking in at three hours, Steve! is split into two sections. “Then” covers Martin’s childhood through his revolutionary stand-up career, while “Now” focuses primarily on his current life, his reflections on the movie career he began after retiring from stand-up, his passion for art collecting, and his commitment to his family.
Considered together, Steve! is probably the most we’ll ever learn about the enigmatic, intensely private Martin – which admittedly isn’t much. Even old friends like Tina Fey and Diane Keaton admit they’re not quite sure who the “real” man is, despite having immense love and respect for him.
After three hours, viewers won’t know much more, but allowing Neville’s cameras to follow him around is clearly a big step for him. Perhaps the biggest revelation is how much he’s willing to open up about his difficult relationship with his father. As origin stories go, it’s pretty common; still, it recontextualizes a lot of choices Martin makes over the course of his life.
Longtime fans won’t be surprised by much of Steve! However, those who only know the complex artist for the family movies he made later in his career (Father of the Bride, Cheaper by the Dozen, etc.) are in for some fairly big revelations. He kept photos, journals and videos from a young age, which Neville utilizes throughout all three hours to astonishing effect.
“Then” is a bit stronger than “Now,” but viewing them as a singular text demonstrates how much Martin has evolved as performer throughout his seven decades(!) in show business. He has always been fiercely intelligent (and, yes, somewhat aloof), but you can see how much he’s mellowed since becoming a husband and father. Plus, there’s his close friendship with frequent collaborator Martin Short, who plays a substantial role in the documentary’s second half.
It’s that aspect of “Now” that could prove divisive. Martin takes the project seriously, but Short seems to be “on” all the time, constantly taking advantage of the cameras. Granted, that could be because he’s not around Neville and his crew nearly as much, but the difference is jarring.
Grade: B
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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