It is not often that I actually go the theaters to see a movie, so when I do it is usually a movie that I have a vested interest in wanting to see. Yesterday, I went to see the recently-released film "The Man from U.N.C.L.E," based off the 1960's television show of the same name. Directed by Guy Ritchie ("Snatch", "Sherlock Holmes") and starring Henry Cavill (you may know him as Superman in "Man of Steel") and Armie Hammer ("The Social Network"), the movie is an ode to the classic spy flicks that were immensely popular back in the early to late sixties. Here's looking at you, James Bond.
Set in 1963, at the height of the Cold War, American CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Cavill) and Soviet KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Hammer) are forced to team up from across the Iron Curtain in order to stop a criminal organization from developing a nuclear weapon after kidnapping a German weapons scientist working for the U.S. Tagging along is the scientist's daughter, Gaby Teller (played by Alicia Vikander), who is the only person with whom the two rival spies can infiltrate the organization and prevent a nuclear attack.
The film itself is a highly enjoyable experience, with plenty of thrills as well as humor. There is a good deal of action, but the violence isn't too extreme as compared to other movies of this kind. The actors' performances, while not Oscar material, are convincing and there is definitely good chemistry among the trio, particularly between Hammer and Vikander's characters. The back-and-forth banter of Solo and Kuryakin was quite funny, giving a light-hearted take on the Cold War rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union and teasing romantic scenes between Gaby and the Kuryakin were sexy but not gratuitous at all. The interactions between the lead actors really fleshed out the characters for me. The costume and set design is faithful to the time period, giving every scene a vibrant 1960's style with sleek cars, well-tailored suits and colorful dresses. To top it all off, the soundtrack contains classic songs from the time from artists such as Nina Simone Solomon Burke. This movie oozes style.
Overall, I found watching this movie to be an excellent way to end the summer and would gladly watch it again. In my opinion, it had the perfect mix of action, humor, and stylistic substance that you'd look for in a spy flick. If you're a fan of James Bond, the sixties, or any spy movie for that matter, you shouldn't pass on "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
