Tag Archives: Armie Hammer

Review: Nat Turner ignites a revolution in ‘The Birth of a Nation’

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Revolutions don’t happen overnight. There are many stories about the Civil War, but The Birth of a Nation tells of Nat Turner, a slave who rose up against oppression years before the fighting began.

In this retelling of Nat Turner’s life, Nate Parker delivers a performance that’s full of heart. From moments of joy to tears of heartache, we see every range of emotion that grabs hold of you and keeps you close. The rest of the cast is equally excellent, particularly Armie Hammer as Nat’s owner, Samuel Turner. He balances humanity and evil, sometimes in the same scene, and it’s truly chilling.

The rest of the cast are all people you have seen in many other roles. They each commit and bring a level of heart that’s unmatched. There are also several scenes that are so graphic, I almost looked away and it must have been very difficult for everyone involved.

[SPOILER] My biggest issue with the film was Nat’s sudden discovery of the teachings of the bible and their hypocrisy. This is a man who has studied the bible for years and years, and all of a sudden he realizes this? And why doesn’t it cause him to revolt against it?  [END SPOILER]

I remember learning about The Birth of a Nation (1919) in a college film class. There’s no denying that it broke new ground, but the subject matter and story were undeniably racist and bigoted. Make sure you watch 13th, on Netflix now, as it gives some insight.

The controversy surrounding Nate Parker, the director, co-writer, producer, and star, has been overshadowing his film, but years in the future, it’s the film itself that will stand. Although it’s disjointed, the core story is very important and one that deserves to be told.

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Armie Hammer as “Samuel Turner” Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved
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Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” and Aja Naomi King as “Cherry” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved
Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved
(From L-R:) Armie Hammer as “Samuel Turner” Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” and Jayson Warner Smith as “Earl Fowler” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved
Armie Hammer as “Samuel Turner” Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved
Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” and Aja Naomi King as “Cherry” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Review: ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E’

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Hollywood’s fascination with remaking old television shows into film continues with our subject for today, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., a slick action spy caper from director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes). The film serves as an origin story to the original premise of the television show as we witness the birth of the relationship between the characters and their graduation to becoming the  United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. Step inside the world of espionage and intrigue as we venture back to a time where the world was on the brink of crisis and the men responsible with protecting their countries didn’t wear capes.

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Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. centers on CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), two foes forced to put aside their differences, to team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, bent on creating nuclear weapons with the goal of world domination. How will they find this mystery organization? Through the daughter of a vanished German scientist, Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander) whom the two believe might be the key to unlocking the mystery, but they must contend with Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki), a widowed industrialist who is working with the mystery organization to develop the nuclear technology and stop them from foiling their plan. Can the trio put their differences aside long enough to stop the destruction of the world?

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Director Guy Ritchie has incorporated his wonderfully clever, stylish film making with this intriguing cast of characters to create an intelligent spy caper that doesn’t take itself too serious and allows it’s campy nature to weave its way into the tone of the film to create one heck of a fun time. Henry Cavill is outstanding as the debonair thief turned super spy. Cavill’s charm and delivery are perfect for the setting and his presence on screen is reminiscent of an early Bond. Armie Hammer has his ups and down in the this film, but overall he does a fine job creating his character. Alicia Vikander is absolutely stunning in this film. Vikander, who stole the show in this year’s Ex Machina, again steals the show with her beauty and grace. Elizabeth Debicki is devilishly mesmerizing as the villainess of the film. Debicki brings a sense of calm beauty that you are intrigued to find out more about her. For a film driven by male performances, it’s the women who steal the show of this film.

Overall, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a truly enjoyable film and one that will keep you entertained all the way thru.

Stars:

3 1/2 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

None

Trailer:

More from Comic-Con – Henry Cavill in new trailer for ‘Man From U.N.C.L.E.’

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Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer star in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. – in theaters August 14th.
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Henry Cavill (“Man of Steel”) stars as Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer (“The Social Network”) as Illya Kuryakin in director Guy Ritchie’s action adventure “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” a fresh take on the hugely popular 1960s television series.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” centers on CIA agent Solo and KGB agent Kuryakin. Forced to put aside longstanding hostilities, the two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

“The Man from U.N.C.L.E” also stars Alicia Vikander (“Anna Karenina”), Elizabeth Debicki (“The Great Gatsby”), with Jared Harris (“Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows”), and Hugh Grant as Waverly.

The screenplay was written by Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, who previously collaborated on re-imagining the classic detective Sherlock Holmes in two hit films. The story is by Jeff Kleeman & David Campbell Wilson and Guy Ritchie & Lionel Wigram, based on the television series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

John Davis (“Chronicle”), Steve Clark-Hall (“RocknRolla,” the “Sherlock Holmes” films), Wigram and Ritchie produced the film, with David Dobkin serving as executive producer.

Ritchie’s behind-the-scenes creative team included two-time Oscar®-nominated director of photography John Mathieson (“The Phantom of the Opera,” “Gladiator”), production designer Oliver Scholl (“Jumper,” “Edge of Tomorrow”), editor James Herbert (the “Sherlock Holmes” films, “Edge of Tomorrow”), and Oscar®-nominated costume designer Joanna Johnston (“Lincoln”). The music is composed by Daniel Pemberton (“The Counselor”).
“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” opens Friday, August 14, 2015.

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, a Ritchie/Wigram Production, a Davis Entertainment Production, a Guy Ritchie Film, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E’ Poster and Trailer Debuts

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manfromuncleposterlargeWarner Bros. has debuted the trailer and poster for director Guy Ritchie’s big screen adaptation of the 60’s series The Man From U.N.C.L.E starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander. You can check it out below!

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. centers on U.N.C.L.E. agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. The two team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. will be released in theaters on August 14, 2015