Bad To The Bone: Review of Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad

Director: David Ayer

By Alex Watson

You desperately want Suicide Squad to be this fun and carefree ride that we were all promised in its glorious advertising campaign. Sadly no matter how much fast paced action comes our way, director David Ayer just cannot make us ignore how thin on the ground his adaptation is. Sporting one of the best casts of the year, all the ingredients were there for one this summer's best movies. Once again DC fans will let down in a year that has been kind to its heroes.

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) forms Task Force X, a team made up of some of the worst offenders on earth including hit man Deadshot (Will Smith), psycho Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), bank robber Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and fire wielding gangster Diablo (Jay Hernandez). When an ancient witch being and her brother resurfaces, the team is forced into action under the command of Rick Flag (Joel Kinneman). Can so many bad people together really be trusted? Also, Harley's boyfriend The Joker (Jared Leto) is also causing his own problems.

The first quarter of Suicide Squad is undeniably the strongest as we meet our heroes at a CIA Black Site in the Louisana swamp lands. It's fun and each meeting of the different bad guys has a strong likability to it, Harley Quinn makes her mark her early as on the surface she is all sugar and spice but below there beats the heart of a lunatic. Ayer's direction is wayward has his character development is ankle deep- through a series of rushed introductions we never really get a feel for these anti-heroes, only a gloss over of what their offenses are. Even the bit part player such as Slipknot (Adam Beach) and Katana (Karen Fukuhara) are thrust into the mix with little explanation. Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) is an impressive looking use of prosthetics, but aside from a couple of funny lines he never gets much action.

Not having a lead antagonist really makes this picture suffer at the core- Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) who is an ancient witch who has come back to turn humans into her own brand of alien slaves lacks any bite. The biggest crime of all is the lack of screen time given to Jared Leto's excellent Joker. Bursting onto the screen like a smooth old style gangster with metal teeth, this Joker is every inch as sadistic and terrifying as Heath Ledger before him. "I'm not gonna kill ya, I'm just gonna hurt ya really, really bad!" he says to his lady love Harley. The relationship between these two is not given nearly as much attention as it needs. One of the most destructive yet devoted pairs in DC history, we need fully feel the full effect of this union. Another key issue comes from both Ayer and cinematographer Roman Vasaynov's shooting of key action scenes. Due to poor visual effect and a far too breakneck execution, many scenes seem muddled and Ayer seems in a big hurry to get things out of the way.

When the Suicide Squad team forms together there are moments that do stand out, such as Diablo's fine monologue about how his lust for power killed his family. The friendship between Harley and Deadshot seems much more developed genuine than his desire to reunited with his beloved daughter. Killer Croc does have microseconds of brilliance and you feel this could have been a stand out if handle differently. The big showdown at the film's climax is a let down on both an action and CG front because due a big and smoky room, it is near impossible to figure out precisely what is going on? David Ayer is a fine writer and his directorial work like End of The Watch and Fury made him out to be a smart choice. Through a series of missteps and some serious underdevelopment, he has turned what could have been DC's saving grace into yet another misfire. So far the box office bell is ringing loudly so these bad guys will likely be back for round 2. Lots of work to do guys!

Margot Robbie is the standout member of this cast with her sociopathic turn as Harley Quinn. So alluring yet so terrifying, Robbie shows just why she is the new hot property on the block. Effortlessly carrying forward her inner demons along with a fun-loving edge, Robbie is what will remember coming out. Will Smith is also able to take a poorly written Deadshot and make him into something far better. Relishing his antihero status, Smith succeeds well as the at first elite hitman turned doting father. Desperate to reunited with his daughter, he also feels a bond with this group he has become entangled with. Jai Courtney once again comes off short changed in a big blockbuster as his Captain Boomerang offers little else other than filling the Aussie bogan stereotype. Jared Leto looks and sounds the part of the Joker, but we need far more from this guy next time out because Batman could have another great nemesis.

Suicide Squad is a movie that you keep holding out for something great to happen, but like Batman v Superman before it, it simply underwhelms.

Movie Plot Concepts Better Than Finished Film

In Time 

Andrew Niccol's futuristic thriller could have been a great re-doing of Logan's Run had it played its cards right. The concept that in years beyond that time literally is money was one that kept the story moving. But the whole idea that one ages past 25 was a little difficult to swallow, could you believe Olivia Wilde was Justin Timberlake's mum? The main catalyst was the flawed transition for a story of survival to being almost a crime thriller. After an engaging first act we were left with a deflated after effect. It was a shame because on the original idea alone, Niccol could have had a winning horse.

Equilibrium

Setting a story in a world (no Don LaFontaine pun intended) where a totalitarian governments rules supreme and humanity is forced to pacify all emotion was an intriguing one. The game changer here was the unfortunate wayward direction from Kurt Wimmer. Its introduction of the fictional karate/gun shooting style 'Gun Kata' made for thrilling and off beat viewing. These sole moments breathed life into what a movie on life support throughout. Tragically what started as a wonderful and thought provoking concept descended into a mindless action movie. Still it makes an interesting double bill alongside The Matrix though.

Hancock

What could have been one of the more memorable superhero comedies was somewhat hashed by director Peter Berg.  Will Smith gave us a few laughs as drunken hero, Hancock but its confusion over its formula style led to mixed result. Berg seemed to be on the fence about whether this was a comedy or a drama? This indecision meant that many laughs were lost in a haze and its never quite got to grips with itself. Originally intended to be stretched over two installments, the decision was made instead to mash it together in one movie. The great late movie twist is revealed too early and lost any effective touch it could have brought.

Prometheus 

The principle issue with this movie's build up was that it was expected by many Alien fans to be another series installment. When it was revealed as a whole new concept, this led to cries of despair. Despite have a potentially great build up to finding out about the Xenomorph's origins, a poor script and some blurred lines of story let the side down. Ridley Scott attempted his best to bring a positive spin on what is a visual effects masterclass. But no amount of sparkle and a fine Michael Fassbender android turn could mask the fans disbelief.

The Men Who Stare At Goats 

When the trailer for Grant Heslov's comedy first debuted, it looked a sure fire hit. His idea of a journalist (Ewan McGregor) following a former psychic spy (George Clooney) and learning the secrets of his life less ordinary seemed a ready-made idea. Disappointingly what followed was a rather drab and flat finished product that failed to live up to the hype. Heslov's movie has some great individual moments and a stunning supporting cast. Despite this it failed to cross over into the critically acclaimed section.

The Con Is On: Review of Focus

Focus

Directors: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa

By Alex Watson

Glen Ficarra and John Requa's movie Focus is a very slick and enticing affair which has its fair share of thrills and spills. But despite some neat trickery and some assured performances, the end result is doesn't quite stand out. There is a shiny and very cute feel to the way the art of confidence scams are portrayed, but it cannot escape a rather predictable feel to later events. But with Will Smith on board, everything always appears very cool indeed. 

Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) is a expert con artist who reluctantly takes Jess (Margot Robbie), a rookie pick pocket under his wing and teaches her the art of the game. But after they part ways, years later they both find themselves on different sides of the same con against a billionaire racing team owner Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro) where all secrets and feelings must be put aside. One wrong step from either could spell disaster.

Ficarra and Requa deserve credit for making Focus appear to be such an effortlessly smooth picture. As each part of the story easily slips into the next it makes this out to be a glossier affair than it appears. There are some moments that truly spark picture into life, such a scene set during a big game at the New Orleans Superdome, where Nicky goes head to head with big gambling Asian billionaire (BD Wong). In this sequence there is a tense and chilly atmosphere- but it pays off big time with a clever aftermath! Try not to laugh at the number 55 for hours afterwards!

As a main character, Nicky is one that we are drawn to quickly as he is everything a con man should be- suave, sophisticated and possesses a crafty use for words. But in later events, his character becomes harder to warm to as everything just seems to come to him so easily. There is a sweet setup as he meets Jess during a botched con on her side and from here he hilarious proceeds to demonstrate the more effective ways to pick pocket. Jess is the one we come out rooting for because she is routinely pushed into harms way and demonstrates a great resolve.

The central story is nothing really new and disappointingly the movie's big reveals are obvious than they want to appear. As a villian, Garriga lacks any real threat, but his number two man Owens (Gerald McRaney) is one of Focus' more interesting characters and in one scene he demonstrate his inquisitive and dangerous persona to a panicked and baffled Nicky to hilarious effect. Moments in this film give the impression this could have been a more memorable affair in the right hands.

However the chemistry between Will Smith and Margot Robbie is a palpable one. Smith gives the role his all and as normal comes away as looking like one cool dude. But this isn't a role that really tests his abilities and feels second nature to him these days. Margot Robbie comes away as the breakaway star and she invests the role of Jess with a lot more guts than many would have expected. After her star turn in the Wolf of Wall Street, the former Neighbours star is deservedly turning head in Hollywood for all the right reasons. In 2016, these two will once reunite for the Suicide Squad film- if it is anything like this then we have winner on our hands!

In Focus, Ficarra and Requa have produced a solidly made film that will not provide a decent nights entertainment, but unlike its predecessors I am not sure whether this one will stick in the memory for long afterwards.