Kingsman - Manners Maketh Man

Kingsman: The Secret Service, released in 2014, is possibly best described as a mix between Kill Bill and Austin Powers, but there is just no sufficient answer to the question what this movie actually is. First and foremost, it is a comic adaptation and a James Bond parody (directed by Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn). However, it is not as goofy as most parodies in recent years, and not really subtle either, but less quirky. In contrast to a James Bond movie, not everyone here is a gentleman, but everyone certainly tries to be. And in the middle of it all, you will find yourself inside a kind-of zombie apocalypse. 

Harry "Galahad" Hart (Colin Firth) doesn't like having his conversation interrupted. Pub: Very Bri'ish. Source.

 

The movie starts off with a young man (played by Taron Egerton) from a troubled family who gets recruited by a mysterious organization directly alleged to the British Crown. He, the proletarian underdog among his highly educated peers, has to undergo a brutal training somewhat reminiscent of the Hunger Games, but – spoiler alert! – fails. In the meantime, a criminal mastermind – Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) – prepares everything to secure the success of his evil plan. Jackson portrays an interesting mixture of apple-generation entrepreneur and tacky hip hopper: A distinctly American villain. His style mirrors our street-smart hero's origins and bourgeois aspirations at the same time. 

 

His plan (which won't be spoiled here) seems more sophisticated than most other evil plans, because it has a more profound vision overall (he has a bit of an Agent Smith vibe going on). In fact, it might make you think, and although Valentine’s designs are still, well, pretty evil, his motivation is not purely selfish. The ruthless temptress at his side (Soufia Boutella) plays a perfect counterpart to Valentine who, highly ironically, cannot stand watching physical violence. 

Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Taron Egerton) and evil genius Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) meet for the first time. Source.

The movie is fast paced, has just the right amount of humour and comes up with a lot of fresh ideas (the narration is rather conventional, however) and enjoyable mind-blowing plot twists. Otherwise, it is a rather standard action movie coming with a neglectable number of minor logical flaws. Kingsman is, nevertheless, among the best the genre has to offer and certainly knows how to entertain. Highly recommended.

Trumbo - A man who wouldn't be silenced

A few weeks ago, some friends and I went to the cinema. We did not know which movie to watch, so we settled for the sneak peek preview. And oh, boy, were we in for a surprise! None of us had heard from the movie we were going to watch: Trumbo. Neither did we know that Breaking Bad-Star Bryan Cranston would play the main role!

When we realized what kind of movie this would be, we were skeptical. We had not come to the cinema with the intention of learning about a communist screenwriter living and working in America during the 1940’s and following. We were not sure if we were in the mood for ‘something intellectual’. 

The story is concerned with Dalton Trumbo, a man who believes in fair wages, but who does not want to give up his privileges at the same time – a moderate socialist, you might say, but nevertheless a member of the infamous “Hollywood 10” (alleged communists in the movie business). Thus, he is considered a radical and a public enemy. Trumbo has to endure public shaming, first and foremost led by journalist Hedda Hopper (well portrayed by Helen Mirren), whose slanderous reporting inspires one angry viewer to shove his drink in Trumbo’s face.

Trumbo defending himself. Source.

A little bit later, when famous movie star John Wayne (David James Elliot) tries to lecture Trumbo on being a true American, Trumbo embarrasses him, reminding him that he, unlike Trumbo, never fought for his country during WWII – only on screen. As Trumbo notices that Wayne is on the verge of exploding, he just says: “And if you're going to hit me I'd like to take off my glasses.” Wayne walks away, leaving a baffled crowd, both on and off screen, behind. 

If anything is clear from that scene on, it is that Trumbo is not only brave, but resilient. A short clip from the real Trumbo's testimony given during the hearings in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities gives you a good idea of Trumbo’s chutzpah in the face of his prosecutors. Cranston masterfully revives this one of the most daring testimonies of history, comparable to Oscar Wilde’s passionate speech in his 1895 trial. 

Official Trailer

Later on, Trumbo is convicted – without having committed a crime. The movie succeeds in portraying this little known director both as a humble and – most of all – truly sympathetic hero, certainly influenced by his two daughters, Nikola and Melissa, who were involved in the writing of the film. The importance of Trumbo's story can hardly be overstated, for it depicts the American Nation when it had just defeated a great evil – Nazi Germany – but instantaneously became oblivious to its own oppressive power during the McCarthy era.

What the movie falls short of, however, is to keep up its very interesting start. By the end, watching Trumbo’s biography feels a little tedious. However, the actors’ great performances make up for it, and if characters sometimes seem comical (most notably B-movie producers Frank King (John Goodman) and his brother Herman (Stephen Root)), it is for the better. In most cases, however, performances are spot-on. 

The Trumbo biopic is definitely a movie you wouldn’t want to miss if you are interested in American history. It is a well-deserved tribute to one of Hollywood's greatest directors.