Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre

Ici, Guy Ritchie avance un peu par inertie et Opération Fortune suit plus la trace de conneries superficielles exubérantes du genre Agents très spéciaux - Code U.N.C.L.E que celle de ses films plus récents, cools et fonctionnels comme The Gentlemen ou Un homme en colère – mais ça reste sympa. On se retrouve avec un mix des Bond et des M:I, dans un style typiquement ritchien, mais sans antagoniste central intéressant, sans scénario surprenant et sans scènes d’action qui vous en mettent plein la vue. L’humour et les répliques ne volent pas bien haut et il est difficile de vraiment prendre à cœur le destin des personnages principaux ; parfois, c’est comme si Ritchie s’intoxiquait un peu trop de ses propres prises. En même temps, c’est rythmé et compact, contrairement à la mode actuelle des métrages interminables. (04/01/2023)

It is missing some visual highlight, some memorable scene that would make you want to watch it again. But otherwise it is a pretty solid film, and I could easily see Guy Ritchie as the new Bond director, though he probably doesn't even aspire to that, he's comfortable in the company of those weird underworld folks. Hugh Grant is an excellent sleazeball, Jason Statham is just Jason Statham, the same kind of actor that makes us love him so much, and Aubrey Plaza is a sweetheart when she's not all made up and trying to look sexy (she's really bad at that), but the one that was pleasantly surprised me was Josh Hartnett. I don't understand what messed up the career of this fun and charismatic guy, but hopefully after this and Oppenheimer it will get better. (30/03/2024)

Guy Ritchie would probably make a great Bond movie, but he doesn't need to, he prefers to play in his backyard, which he knows well, and gives us what we like. This time, don't expect big plot twists, but straightforward action entertainment that kind of combines The Man from U.N.C.L.E. with Gentlemen and, apart from Ritchie's more or less visible directorial ideas (I was already impressed by the opening with the footsteps that turn into music), it mainly relies on the performances. Jason Statham is Jason Statham again, but this time in that funny way, Aubrey Plaza is absolutely perfect, and every scene Josh Hartnett and Hugh Grant do together is priceless. This is the kind of cleverly entertaining film I enjoy going to the cinema for the most. (13/01/2023)

A subversive version of Mission Impossible, where they steal a ChatGPT that can launch nukes and point fingers at the Soviets. Unfortunately, it's unexpectedly bland, almost soporific at times without the crazy stunts of Mad Tom. On top of that, some of the villains are Ukrainian, and that’s just not trendy today. The acting is great, Statham is excellent again, only Cary Elwes didn't suit me here. The script, despite some stylish dialogue (or Grant's exquisite final monologue), lacks drive, is muddled and falls short of the typical Ritchie standard. I felt like he got bored during the shooting and tried to finish it quickly so he could get on with The Covenant. (12/05/2023)

Orson Fortune and his team must prevent the sale of a weapon that could threaten the entire world. To do so, they must get close to a dangerous adversary, and they're going to use a Hollywood superstar to do it. Guy Ritchie delivers an entertaining action-spy comedy that's driven forward by a particularly likeable cast. Unfortunately, they're a bit undermined by a muddled script, which often makes the story pause unnecessarily and deal with irrelevancies, only to have to unnecessarily plunge forward a few moments later. It's not boring, but one expects a bit more from Ritchie and Statham. (12/01/2023)