by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who thought that we needed Guy Ritchie making gangster and crime thrillers again? For a while, Ritchie got caught up making big budget adaptations of standing properties. Sherlock Holmes… King Arthur… Aladdin… interesting? Ritchie hit the ground running with his early British gangster films like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels as well Snatch, which showed what Ritchie had up his sleeve. Tons of big personalities, sharp dialogue, and roller coaster plots made those early films pop. The bigger films he got into never really captured that spark in a meaningful way. Then there was The Gentlemen. I was shocked. I loved this film so much when it came out last year. The characters are incredible, the dialogue is sharp (Coach wants you to cut him with it), and the plot is a spider web of mystery. With this newfound focus, Ritchie turned his attention to Wrath of Man.
Does Wrath of Man capture that spark of Ritchie’s early gangster films?
This is… something different. When you think about Ritchie films, you expect some level of fun. Sure, Wrath of Man has its moments, but this is a serious thriller. That was so shocking to me. Jason Statham certainly had a few great quips, but generally he is cold and calculating. Ritchie really plays off of this cold approach to humanity and creates a film that channels right through Statham. He invests in his lead to keep the tone of the film. I appreciate the different approach because it is something different for Ritchie. He is able to capture this dark and ominous tone that lays plenty of tension throughout the film. Even when it loses a bit of its narrative force in the second act, this film draws you in and it is quite impactful. That has a lot to do with the attitude that the director builds into it. The technical aspects are impressive as well, with a pulsating and ominous score from Christopher Benstead and the incredible framing of every shot from cinematographer Alan Stewart.
But can a crew of five men pull together a cohesive enough story to really draw the audience in?
They certainly do some magic! But it can be quite clear that there are that many writers involved. There are so many characters in this movie. You have a whole security company team, a group of criminals from Statham’s past, and a whole group of antagonists. That just might be too much. This story begins with a cold open featuring an armored car robbery caught in one bold static frame. The lack of expanse in the opening keeps plenty of mystery for the audience and really nails a reveal set up for later in the film. Then we get Bond-type musical credits that feel very surreal (like a Bond film) paired with Stewart’s impressive script. Then we experience the anti-training montage as Statham “barely” passes the entrance testing for this security job. He was too average. He must be hiding something, right? But then Statham destroys a whole team of robbers single-handedly… he is definitely hiding something. Then we are delivered a non-linear tale of betrayal, loss, and twists. I will not give any of that away (what would be the fun in that?). All I will say is this film will take you on a crazy roller coaster ride. Do all of the narrative beats work? Are they all as surprising as they want to be? Are there too many characters to focus on? Yes, yes, and yes. But it is still engrossing and powerful in a way many Ritchie films are not.
There are certainly too many characters, but how are the performances?
Top notch. Statham is a cold and dangerous version of his normal persona with a deeper layer of pain inside. I have never seen this side of Statham, but it is so great. Holt McCallany is exactly what you might expect for his character. Josh Hartnett is in a movie! And he plays a natural rival to Statham, who is more vulnerable than his character would want to admit. Andy Garcia brings a veteran presence… and an unconvincing accent (whatever it might be). Jeffrey Donovan and Scott Eastwood play some bad dudes that work well in the film. Then you have Eddie Marsan and Rob Delaney throwing in some comic relief for good measure. There are plenty of supporting acts in this film, but it is truly Statham’s story of vengeance (even when the film unfortunately forgets about him for stretches of the film).
Wrath of Man might be more serious than we expect from Ritchie, but does this one continue the new hot streak from him?
I think it really does. Don’t go in expecting your fast talking and quippy gangster flick, but what you do get is a fresh and intense experience. There is plenty to enjoy in the film and you just might catch some feelings that the film is dishing out. In the end, this one is worth it and I look forward to seeing what Ritchie does next.
Grade: B