Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)

A team of secret agents for hire participates in a mission in which they have to find out what was stolen, by whom and who is the buyer.

'Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre' is the latest Guy Ritchie made production. Fresh but uninteresting, the film manages to bring back to attention names that were once on everyone's lips (Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes..) but unfortunately without a suitable script. It works ok as a run of the mill spy film, but it is far below expectations for a Guy Ritchie movie.

Director:  Guy Ritchie    

With: Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Hugh Grant, Josh Hartnett, Eddie Marsan, Peter Ferdinando

Rating: 6/10

Wrath of Man (2021)

A gangster father infiltrates a private security team to track down those guilty of a personal tragedy.

'Wrath Of Man' is a Guy Ritchie film, but without his personal style using humorous and ironic dialogue, London slang and colorful characters from the English underworld. This film has only one Englishman, who doesn't speak much, but is efficient, determined, enjoyable to watch (he sometimes reminds us of the driver from the first film of the Transporter series) and some interesting American characters, but the strength of the film lies in the pure, raw action, in the the gradual unveiling of the mystery of the main protagonist's intentions, and the final validation of the audience's wishes. What still preserves the high quality of Ritchie's style is his wonderful ability to tell a story in a rhythm and a cadence perfectly molded to the tension and emotional involvement of the viewer.

Director:  Guy Ritchie 

With: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Josh Hartnett, Rocci Williams, Scott Eastwood, Andy Garcia, Laz Alonso, Eddie Marsan, Jeffrey Donovan

Rating: 9/10

The Gentlemen (2019)

Capul unei retele de distributie de marijuana de succes incearca sa se retraga dar gestul sau da nastere unei intregi increngaturi de incurcaturi, neintelegeri si santaje.

Un thriller marca Guy Ritchie in stilul sau clasic ce aminteste de filmele ce l-au lansat ca Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels sau Snatch. Plin de personaje tipice stilului sau, bine definite in cele mai mici detalii, povestea devine doar un pretext pentru a le expune in mediul lor natural. Fiecare componenta a naratiunii este fascinanta individual, oferind o ocazie minunata lui Michelle Dockery, Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell si Hugh Grant sa isi etaleze talentul versatil.

Regia:  Guy Ritchie   

Cu: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Jeremy Strong, Colin Farrell,  Henry Golding, Hugh Grant, Eddie Marsan

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

The Professor And The Madman (2019)

Povestea initierii lucrului pentru celebrul Oxford English Dictionary si a prieteniei ce a contribuit enorm la acesta.

Un proiect favorit al lui Mel Gibson ce i-a luat aproape 20 de ani pentru a-l pune la cale, The Professor And The Madman este un film bazat pe o poveste reala impresionanta, ce ar fi putut deveni o potentiala capodopera daca celor doi contribuitori importanti le-ar fi fost permis sa isi manifeste geniul creator in conditiile dorite de acestia. Dar nu vom afla vreodata deoarece procesul ce a avut loc nu a fost favorabil pentru Mel Gibson. Facut in mare in 2016 si lansat in 2019 dupa bataliile legale, filmul este rezultatul colaborarii lui Mel Gibson cu scenaristul cu care a lucrat pentru Apocalypto (adus aici in rol de regizor), cu restrictiile bugetare si creatoare impuse de casa de productie. 

Chiar si in conditiile astea, povestea reala este in schimb de ajuns de fascinanta pentru a ne darui un film captivant iar echipa de actori este minunat aleasa in frunte cu un Mel Gibson, Sean Penn si Jennifer Ehle de zile mari si ne deapana minunat o bucatica de istorie lexicografica imbogatita pe alocuri cu cateva speculatii romantate, intr-adevar posibile dar nu confirmate.

Regia:  Farhad Safinia (sub pseudonimul  P. B. Shemran)

Cu: Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, Eddie Marsan, Natalie Dormer, Steve Coogan, Stephen Dillane, Jennifer Ehle, Ioan Gruffudd, Laurence Fox, David O'Hara

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

The Limehouse Golem (2016)

Investigatia unei serii de crime in Londra anilor 1880 are legaturi cu un caz izolat al unei sotii acuzate de otravirea sotului.

The Limehouse Goldem este atat o analiza sociala cat si o investigatie politista a unor crime oribile. Pe jumatate romanticizat, concentrat pe inocenta si ghinionista sotie inchisa, reuseste sa atraga audienta prin candoare, curiozitate si  elemente senzationale. Finalul este banuit ceva mai devreme decat intentionat dar este un final reusit oricum.

Bill Nighy l-a inlocuit pe Alan Rickman din cauza problemelor de sanatate ale acestuia. Douglas Booth este genial in rolul unui personaj real al lumii teatrale - Dan Leno.

Regia: Juan Carlos Medina

Cu: Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke, Sam Reid, Douglas Booth, Daniel Mays, Eddie Marsan

Rating: 8/10

Also read In English