Elite spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Reluctantly teamed up with some of the world’s best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett), to help them on their globe-trotting mission to save the world.

Regarded as the king of machismo action cinema, celebrated filmmaker Guy Ritchie makes his long-awaited return to cinemas with Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, a wickedly fun spy-adventure-thriller that injects a dose of new energy into the genre and will leave audiences grooving in their seats. This is a film that is pure Ritchie, as a crack team of ace spies combats black market dealings, double-crossing mercenaries, vicious gangsters and one very slimy arms dealer in order to save the world. And it’s a rush. Joining forces again with long-time collaborator Jason Statham, hot off their work together on the intense and dark Wrath of Man, Operation Fortune offers Ritchie and Statham a new road to speed down and its cracking pace, bold action and pitch-perfect comedy is what cinema fun is made of.

As one of the best directors working today, Ritchie brings his own brand of creativity to the screen once more and again he mixes things up with Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. This global-spanning spy adventure is packed full of classic flair mixed with some cutting-edge drama, and Ritchie goes to town with this picture. With an equal mix of crackling gunfire, heavy punches, and terrific banter between a whole host of very unique espionage characters, Operation Fortune is the director’s take on the classic spy team-up film, and he keeps his audience’s heart racing the whole way through.

Once again front and centre is Ritchie’s long-time collaborator and good friend Jason Statham, and this time he mixes it up as the intrepid super-spy Orson Fortune, who has some very interesting quirks. This modern-day spy is a dashing man of action who has a real fondness for the good life and who is all too happy to max out his agency’s expense account to enjoy it. But in addition to the tailored suits, private jets and vintage wines, he’s also an exceedingly capable and exceptionally dangerous individual who knows his way around a gun, and Statham brings his usual can-do attitude to the film’s action scenes. Along with kicking ass he also gets to crack plenty of jokes, and it’s very apparent that he had a blast with this one-of-a-kind spy.

Paired with Statham’s Fortune and mixing it up is Aubrey Plaza as the sultry and quick-witted Sarah Fidel, the team’s computer expert and hacker. And this is Plaza in a performance unlike you’ve ever seen her before. Plaza is exceptionally glamorous and alluring as Fidel, but also dangerously astute and she likes nothing better than to push Statham’s button. And the result is comedic brilliance. Plaza also isn’t content to just sit behind a desk either, and she jumps head-first into the fray, and goes all out with the film’s exceptional action scenes.

Continuing in his return to form is Hollywood hunk Josh Hartnett who has been making quite a big comeback as of late and again he turns in another stellar performance here in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Cast as Hollywood’s biggest star Danny Francesco, Hartnett portrays an outlandish, childish buffoon who is forced into joining Fortune’s team, after his penchant for debauchery gets him into trouble and soon has to take on the biggest role of his career. Hartnett leans heavily into this over-sexed, drugged-up poser of a movie star and he’s an absolute riot in the role. He also gets some serious time behind the wheel in the film’s stunning car chase and lives out a Steve McQueen fantasy as he slams on the accelerator in a wild chase scene that will flaw audiences.

Finally bringing Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre together is the one and only Hugh Grant and he gives one very naughty performance as the playful, but dangerous billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmons. Brash, uncouth, loud and crass, Grant gives a transformative performance as one of the world’s most dangerous villains who like his money, his cars and his women, and who poses quite a threat in Operation Fortune. From the moment he appears on screen Grant steals every scene that he’s in and his presence is undoubtedly the best part of the film. This is Grant unlike you’ve ever seen him before, and Ritchie knows how to help him take it to the next level, and this is one devious and menacing villain you won’t soon forget.

For those who like their spy films with exotic locations, explosive action and decadent glamour, well, you’ll be very happy with Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. This is a fast-paced kinetic piece of cinema, and its pure pop energy will absolutely speak to audiences who are looking for a rush. Thanks to his innovative and rapid style of filmmaking, Ritchie invests a real sense of creativity and energy into this picture and the results show on the screen. This is the spy genre done the way we like it, and the end product demands to be seen on the big screen.

From beginning to end, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is pure class and proves why Guy Ritchie is one of the most exciting and dynamic filmmakers working today. Narrative, action, character and comedy all come together for an exhilarating time at the movies with Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.

Image: Roadshow Films

The post ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.

After breaking out one of their own, Barney (Sylvester Stallone), Christmas (Jason Statham) and the rest of the Expendables undertake a contract to capture a notorious arms smuggler. The only catch is that the arms smuggler in question turns out to be Barney’s former teammate and co-founder of The Expendables, Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), a man who Barney had to put down after he went rogue. But Stonebanks survived, and has made it his mission to destroy the team he once called his own. The story really kicks off when one of Barney’s friends is caught in the crossfire, forcing him to recruit a younger generation of Expendables to help fill out the ranks for what will be all-out war.

Sylvester Stallone once again returns as writer and star of the lucrative franchise, and this time he’s enlisted the help of Australian director Patrick Hughes. The talented director has made sure to fill the screen with enough hard-hitting action and stoic one liners to knock the audience back into their seats.

While the team’s core troops, including Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) all return, Barney is gathering some old faces and new talent. First off, there’s Wesley Snipes as the slightly unhinged knife master Doctor Death. A former medic, and one of the original Expendables, Death has a few screws loose, but is an adapt soldier who is more than capable in a firefight and can hold his own when it comes to unarmed combat, as well as giving the Expendables resident blade master, Statham’s Lee Christmas, a run for his money. Snipes jumps into this role, and instantly steals the first fifteen minutes of the movie for himself. He brings a crazed personality to Death, as well as some much needed soulful flair.

Joining Snipes is Antonio Banderas as the acrobatically gifted Galgo. A former member of the Spanish Armed Forces and Bosnian War veteran, Galgo is desperate for a chance to prove himself and recapture his masculinity and warrior spirit once more. While Galgo produces a hell of a lot of laughs out of his desperation to experience combat again, he also carries a sense of sorrow (like all the Expendables do) from the harsh realities of war. Banderas has an absolute ball as Galgo, and is equally impressive with both his comedic and dramatic timing. He also brings this wildcard sense of energy, and passion to his fight scenes, holding his own, while also plying his irresistible charm. He’s a great addition to the Expendables roster.

But it’s not just the old dogs who are along for the ride this time, as the Expendables are getting some new blood. Kellan Lutz leads the pack as washed up former Marine John Smilee, who finds a sense of purpose and a role model in Barney, while also showing off some impressive motocross skills as he inflicts some serious damage to the bad guys. However, Barney isn’t just leaving it to the boys this time, introducing Rhonda Rousey’s Luna – a tough chick if we ever saw one. She definitely is the breakout star of this piece, and being a UFC World Champion has some serious ass kicking skills to boot. Rousey also proves that she’s got the acting chops and presence to be a major star. Additionally, The Expendables get a tech infusion thanks to Glen Powell’s thrillseeking, daredevil super hacker Thorn, as well as some badass new toys courtesy of Victor Ortiz’s high tech weapons specialist, Mars.

Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as Barney’s resident frenemy Trench Mauser, who once again picks up an assortment of high-powered machine guns to terminate everything in sight. Kelsey Grammer gets in on the action as retired mercenary and ‘talent scout’ Bonaparte, throwing plenty of comedy in Barney’s direction, while legendary actor Harrison Ford show’s up as C.I.A case officer and authority figure Max Drummer, who isn’t content to just give orders, storming out into the field behind the controls of a helicopter gunship.

But the biggest part of the whole movie comes in the form of chief villain Conrad Stonebanks, played by an absolutely pumped and very scary Mel Gibson. While Eric Roberts and Jean Claude Van Damme antagonised Barney and the boys in the first two installments of the series, Mel Gibson is the arch villain that The Expendables deserve. Stonebanks has a serious problem with Barney, and Gibson perfectly channels his hatred for his former teammate. What works is that Stonebanks is portrayed as the somewhat twisted mirror image of what Barney could have become had he strayed from the path, and their mano a mano, no holds barred final confrontation is absolutely brutal.

The Expendables 3 certainly isn’t short of action, and there’s some pretty impressive set pieces. While the new kids on the block get more attention than I had anticipated, the old dogs certainly learn a thing or two from them, and when these two generations of Expendables finally team up together the results are explosive. The Expendables are back, locked, loaded and ready for action. Boom Lay Boom.

The post ‘The Expendables 3’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.