★★★★☆ Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier
Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman are awesome
Thunderbolts
Directed by Jake Schreier
Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman are awesome
That was SO GOOD. I will start by admitting that I expected to like the film going in. Of course I did! I am not one of those unfortunate professional movie critics who must see films whether or not they expect to enjoy them. I only go to films I expect to enjoy. Also, I am a devoted fan of the Marvel franchise generally. I am definitely not one of those folks who turn up their noses at superhero films. Also, I’m a big fan of Florence Pugh.
So, I expected to like it. But it was even better than I expected. Elena (Pugh’s character) wasn’t just a member of the team — she’s really at the center of the film. So it fits that she’s at the front of that poster I copied in at the top, and not just because she’s short. Also, and this was a surprise, a random guy called Bob, played by Lewis Pullman. He was also very good.
You will know the overall shape of the story from the advertising and trailer. The Thunderbolts are a band of plucky misfits, antiheroes, all with dark pasts. They are Elena (Pugh), a former Black Widow (that is, a specially trained Russian assassin), the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian Alexia Shostakov (David Harbour), Ghost Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), and failed Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell). Also, dubiously, Bob (Pullman). There is of course a power-hungry villainess Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss).
The band of antiheroes is a story that gets told over and over, so we’re treading familiar ground there. But I enjoy seeing the old stories retold. And this one was especially well-done.
Unfortunately, I can’t say much about what makes the good parts good without spoiling. There was one section at about three-quarters of the way through the film that was weak — predictable and hackneyed. But aside from that one weak point, I was engaged and entertained throughout. It was much more psychological than I expected.
So, what can I say? For people who like this kind of film, this is the kind of film they like. I am, and it was.