Out on Blu-ray and 4K UHD July 30, 2024
When a CIA agent and a KGB agent find themselves on a joint mission to stop an organization from getting nuclear weapons in the wrong hands, they butt heads, but find a way to make things work.
Based on the television series created by Sam Rolfe, with a story by Jeff Kleeman, David C Wilson, Guy Ritchie, and Lionel Wigram, with the latter two handling script duties and Ritchie directing, this take on the classic series is a boatload of fun. It’s one of those spy movies that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is down to have a good time. There are some nice twists and turns in the story, some of them being a bit predictable, giving the film some excitement, some good story bits, and a whole lot for the cast to do. The humor here is very much “Guy Ritchie” and it works. He clearly took his usual style and adapted it to the flavor of the 1960s. This is a film for fans of Ritchie, but also more accessible in a way. It’s nostalgic, yet new. It’s exciting, yet funny. There is a lot here and it all works somehow.
The cast here is led by Henry Cavill who is just the right mix of suave, mysterious, and a wee bit nerdy, giving the character of Napoleon Solo that extra little something that makes all his work charming and engaging. His performance works great here. Playing his KGB counterpart, Illya Kuryakin, is disgraced actor Armie Hammer who does quite well here too, showing that he could go head-to-head with Cavill while giving his character a more stoic countenance. Joining the duo is Alicia Vikander as Gaby, a woman who joins them in their quest, passing as the fiancée of Kuryakin, giving both men plenty back on what they give. She may seem unnecessary at first, but her presence grows on viewers as the film goes. The cast overall is good here, proving great casting and directing are paramount to a solid film.
One of the major strengths of this film is the art department. The costumes are amazing and on point historically speaking while still allowing fun. The decor, locations, set dressing, everything here is carefully planned, created, and brought to the screen. The cinematography by John Mathieson makes great use of this, giving the film a look that feels right for the 1960s, but also works in a modern way. The work here is so careful and thought out that it’s fascinating to watch, looking for new layers of decor, costumes, etc, with each watch.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a strong outing from Guy Ritchie, one his fans and others should go back and see for the first time or get back to so they can see more of the details and art on display here.
The new release frow Arrow Video looks and sounds fantastic, bringing the Ritchie film to 4K and back to Blu in a more deluxe version than previous ones. The extras included on this release are fun and have a lot of interesting information among them. The best of the bunch in this humble reviewer’s opinion are the archival on-set featurettes, the Spy Vision featurette all about the art of the film from costumes to motorcycles, the Legacy of U.N.C.L.E. which is all about the 1960s show and its influence on this film. Cockneys & Robbers al about Guy Ritchie’s career is also a highlight.