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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
I have to admit, I knew nothing about The Man from U.N.C.L.E going into the movie, other than it was based on a TV show from the 60’s. It had flown under my radar for most of the year, overshadowed by highly-anticipated titles with colons, i.e., Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mad Max: Fury Road, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. When the screener was scheduled I was actually tempted to assign it to another reviewer. Then I watched the trailer and saw Henry Cavill (Superman) was one of the stars. At the risk of sounding shallow, that changed my mind.
As we waited for the movie to start, the Man from U.N.C.L.E soundtrack played through the theater’s sound system, transporting me to a Mad Men mindset, which helped as the movie backdrop is set in the early 1960’s period of the Cold War. We’re introduced first to Napoleon Solo, a CIA agent Cavill plays with amusing James Bond suave with an old-time movie accent. (Officially, I believe it’s called a Transatlantic accent.) He’s paired with Armie Hammer’s Illya Kuryakin, a KGB agent on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization. To accomplish that, they need the cooperation of Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), the abandoned daughter of a German scientist, who is their key to infiltrating the criminal organization.
As you can guess, all the spy movie cliches can be found in Man from U.N.C.L.E. from the debonair womanizing agent, menacing foreigners, the femme fatale, the elaborate schemes that are executed smoothly, explanatory monologues, convenient gadgets, et al – just a vintage low tech, high glam version of spy movies you may have seen of late.
I’m actually glad I went in without any expectations. Guy Ritchie turned a pretty simple, straightforward plot into an intricate,, slightly off-kilter caper, with touches of his trademark storytelling from various perspectives. I enjoyed the subtle vying for supremacy the uneasy truce between Solo and Illya created, and while he’s not as dashing as Cavill, Hammer had great chemistry with Vikander.
This year has been quite the year for spy movies. U.N.C.L.E. is not the action thriller that Mission Impossible is, it’s also far from the campy shocker that Kingsmen was, nor is it as outrageously funny as Spy, but as spy movies go, U.N.C.L.E fits smoothly and oddly comfortably in that fold.
As we waited for the movie to start, the Man from U.N.C.L.E soundtrack played through the theater’s sound system, transporting me to a Mad Men mindset, which helped as the movie backdrop is set in the early 1960’s period of the Cold War. We’re introduced first to Napoleon Solo, a CIA agent Cavill plays with amusing James Bond suave with an old-time movie accent. (Officially, I believe it’s called a Transatlantic accent.) He’s paired with Armie Hammer’s Illya Kuryakin, a KGB agent on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization. To accomplish that, they need the cooperation of Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), the abandoned daughter of a German scientist, who is their key to infiltrating the criminal organization.
As you can guess, all the spy movie cliches can be found in Man from U.N.C.L.E. from the debonair womanizing agent, menacing foreigners, the femme fatale, the elaborate schemes that are executed smoothly, explanatory monologues, convenient gadgets, et al – just a vintage low tech, high glam version of spy movies you may have seen of late.
I’m actually glad I went in without any expectations. Guy Ritchie turned a pretty simple, straightforward plot into an intricate,, slightly off-kilter caper, with touches of his trademark storytelling from various perspectives. I enjoyed the subtle vying for supremacy the uneasy truce between Solo and Illya created, and while he’s not as dashing as Cavill, Hammer had great chemistry with Vikander.
This year has been quite the year for spy movies. U.N.C.L.E. is not the action thriller that Mission Impossible is, it’s also far from the campy shocker that Kingsmen was, nor is it as outrageously funny as Spy, but as spy movies go, U.N.C.L.E fits smoothly and oddly comfortably in that fold.
Erika (17789 KP) rated A Spy Among Friends: Philby and the Great Betrayal in Books
Feb 18, 2018
If you're looking for a non-fiction book that reads like fiction, this is definitely a must-read.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
Kim Philby is infamous, he was responsible for compromising countless agents/missions from the 1930s to the 1960s. He's the inspiration behind a lot of spy fiction, one of the biggest ones being Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The book has a few main sources, Philby himself in his strange memoir written after he fled to Moscow, Nicholas Elliot, a friend and co-worker from MI-6, and James Angleton, also a friend from the CIA. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but there were so many signs of treachery, it's hard to believe that it took 30 years to finally get a confession from him.
And, I mean, come on, the dude decided on giving himself the nickname of Kim, like the character in Rudyard Kipling's novel.
A Foreign Country
Book
Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2012 for Best Thriller of the Year. Selected by the...
The Failsafe Query
8.0
Rate It
Book
The Failsafe Query is a gripping thriller set in the contemporary world of modern British espionage....
Action Espionage
Mission Manhattan
10.0
Rate It
Book
In this fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James...
Steff P (61 KP) rated Archer - Season 1 in TV
Jun 29, 2017
Irreverent, deadpan comedy about a mega-arrogant spy / detective who works for his mum
The main character is such a total **** it's hilarious. Sporting my one of my favourite TV quotes: "sorry I couldn't hear you over the deafening sound of my own awesomeness."
It's very fun. And a little bit stupid. But in a clever way!
It's very fun. And a little bit stupid. But in a clever way!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August in Books
Aug 10, 2017
Brilliant
This was a recommendation from a work colleague and I cannot thank him more, as this was my favourite read of 2016. Brilliantly written, with a fantastic and engrossing story with a sci-fi-esque spin. I couldn't put this down. It moves seamlessly from a drama to an action/spy novel and Harry is a loveable protaganist. My only negative would be that I didn't want it to end!
Sam (228 KP) rated Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) in Movies
Mar 3, 2019
Absolutely Beautiful (2 more)
Elegantly Filmed
Making Action Classy
A Fun And Elegant Movie
This new twist to a secret service has put elegance and honor to a modern day spy movie and as few realize has an actual background in real history that brings a complete brilliance to the whole film. Along with being a heart whelming tale about coming of age this film offers a little something for everyone.
Jackson Jones goes from hero to zero when he gets braces. But that's also how he finds out about the super spies operating out of his elementary school. This book is funny and creative while still delivering a credible plot (well, for a spy spoof). Kids of all ages will love it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-nerds-national-espionage.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-nerds-national-espionage.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks: The Essential Alan Coren
Giles Coren, Alan Coren and Victoria Coren
Book
The Queen at a loose end playing I-Spy, QPR fans arguing at the cheese counter, prank phone calls to...