BLERD AT THE MOVIES
Damn... James Gunn really woke up and chose chaos with this movie. The Suicide Squad DC Fandome Promotional Artwork (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2020) Welcome back to (At Home With) Blerd at the Movies, where I share what movies I've been watching at home while socially distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Except for this one time. That's right; I went to the theater (mask on, two travel-sized bottles of hand sanitizer packed in my bag) to go see The Suicide Squad, the latest comic book blockbuster from James Gunn (Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy franchise). Although I saw the film in IMAX (which I recommend but only if you're comfortable returning to the theater), I watched it again at home because I want to get the most out of my HBO Max subscription. AUTHOR'S NOTE Better late than never, right? Before you start reading, I'd like to say a couple of things. First and foremost, I want to apologize for not publishing this sooner. Between technical difficulties and personal stuff (i.e. work, school, and mental health), it's been hard to find the time and energy to get back to writing. I've got other posts coming but it will take awhile; thank you for being patient with me thus far. Second, I will not be comparing this film to the 2016 version directed by David Ayer. Gunn and Ayer made two separate and distinct films, each working to accomplish different goals and depict different visions (to varying degrees of success). I don't see the reason to compare the two. Finally, there will be no major spoilers here. Character names and a basic summary of the plot will be mentioned but there won't be any in-depth discussions of specific scenes or possible character deaths. I know there's much debate about whether spoiler alerts or non-spoiler discussions/reviews really help or hurt audiences but I don't want to be the one that ruins the movie for someone. If I happen to get some free time in my schedule and there happens to be a demand for it, I would love to do a spoiler-filled discussion about the movie at some point. Now, back to your regularly scheduled post... The Suicide Squad Promotional Artwork (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) Title: The Suicide Squad (2021) Where to Watch: In theaters and HBO Max (available until September 5th, 2021 at no additional fee for subscribers on the ad-free plan) What's It About?: Meet Task Force X, a covert black ops team with a bad reputation. Not only is it comprised entirely of dangerous supervillains, but those drafted to the team don't always make it out alive. Part of this has to do with the project's mastermind, the fearsome Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), injecting every member with a bomb at the base of their skulls. Anyone who defies their orders will get their heads blown up; if someone happens to survive then that lucky soul gets ten years off their sentence at the infamous Belle Reve prison. For their latest mission, Waller has recruited the likes of Peacemaker (John Cena), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), and Bloodsport (Idris Elba) to join the team and infiltrate the island of Corto Maltese to neutralize a secret threat that could potentially destroy the world. (from L to R) David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, John Cena as Peacemaker, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2 in The Suicide Squad (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) I didn't go into The Suicide Squad with high expectations. But if I'm going to be completely honest, I had no plans to see The Suicide Squad in the first place. Partially because I didn't like 2016's Suicide Squad (and it seems I'm not the only one). So the news that there would be a new Suicide Squad film pretty much went over my head. Although I adore the Guardians of the Galaxy films, the news James Gunn would be directing the new Suicide Squad movie didn't immediately spark my interest. It wasn't until curiosity got the best of me and I decided to give The Suicide Squad a chance. I hadn't seen a trailer so I had no idea what to expect from the movie. I was simply relying on blind faith when I bought my IMAX ticket -- which, I'll admit, I only did because I was celebrating heading back to the movies for the first time in a year and a half, as well as celebrating seeing old friends in person again -- and I'm glad I took the risk... because this movie is fucking awesome. While it is not a perfect movie (for reasons I'll dive into soon), The Suicide Squad once again demonstrates Gunn's knack for making audiences empathize with a band of violent, oddball outcasts navigating an increasingly harsh and uncompromising world. Additionally, the movie also shows Gunn at his most bloody, bombastic, and vulgar. Although the movie more than lives up to its "they're dying to save the world" and tagline, the commitment to full-tilt, highly stylized action and gore can turn off prospective viewers. So if you've got a strong stomach and you're totally cool with exploding heads, lots of bloodshed, and a talking shark popping people into his mouth like skittles, The Suicide Squad might be right up your alley. Is it the best James Gunn movie? Personally, I think Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 still holds that title, but The Suicide Squad comes pretty damn close. Is The Suicide Squad the best DCEU movie to date? Well, if I say so here I run the risk of getting ahead of myself. Let's talk about the good, the bad, and the mixed of The Suicide Squad first... (Spoiler alert: There wasn't a lot about this movie that I disliked but there is one element I have mixed feelings about... but we'll get to it soon.) Good: The Squad (from L to R) Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Peter Capaldi as The Thinker, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, and David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) As someone who has been watching comic book/superhero movies for 12 years (and has been writing about them online for five and a half), a common flaw I've noticed in these huge "super-team" movies are the characters. Typically, I find it hard to get invested in the characters assembled for these movies, and, most of the time, that has to do with the lack of strong character development. Of course not every character gets an equal amount of screen time so the filmmakers have to make every moment audiences spend with these superfolks count, but super-team movies have struggled with this aspect in recent years. It seems more time and energy is spent on pulling off bombastic action set-pieces, and that comes at the expense of strong character and narrative work. If the story isn't engaging, then there is no reason to get invested in the characters and vice versa. The Suicide Squad comics have an interesting hook: what if the one thing standing between us and the end of the world was a team assembled of only supervillains? That lends itself to infinite possibilities as to who could be on the team; after all DC Comics has a massive roster of compelling and unique villains to choose from. However, there's a risk for certain characters to overshadow others -- for better or worse. Needless to say, getting the right cast of characters can make or break a Suicide Squad movie -- and we saw how this broke Suicide Squad '16. On its face, The Suicide Squad has a similar issue. Between returning faces like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie, in her third go-around as the fan-favorite DC antiheroine) and Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman, Altered Carbon) and new members such as Peacemaker (John Cena, Bumblebee), Ratcatcher 2 (newcomer Daniela Melchior), and King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone with comedian Steve Agee doing the motion-capture work as the character's body), this film had to reintroduce familiar faces in a fresh way while making sure the newbies didn't get left out. Moreover, there was already reasons to be worried that certain characters could wind up sucking a lot of air out of the movie. (For example, Cena's Peacemaker was already on fans' radar because of the news that Gunn was creating an HBO Max spin-off starring the character, so it stood to reason that a bulk of The Suicide Squad would likely be devoted to building up that solo series.) Needless to say, Gunn had quite the task ahead of him with this movie, but, somehow, he accomplishes this feat. Much like Guardians of the Galaxy made folks empathize with a talking alien tree and his gun-toting raccoon pal, The Suicide Squad gets the audience to look past the supervillain personas and acknowledge the humanity of each member. Through Elba's Bloodsport, for instance, we meet a man who is great being an assassin but awful at being a loving and responsible father to his teenage daughter (Storm Reid, Run), seemingly continuing the cycle of abuse and neglect that he endured at his daughter's age. Amanda Waller takes advantage of this chink in his armor to recruit him for Task Force X, leading viewers to realize that, despite what possible atrocities Bloodsport may have committed, there's something cold and disturbing about a government official using a broken family dynamic to get what she wants. Yet, Gunn's work in recent years have explored the cruel ways the world tends to isolate and damage those who have struggled to cope with the myriad ways the universe brutally challenges and, sometimes, harms them. With his indie flicks Slither and Super, as well as his blockbusters like Guardians and The Suicide Squad, Gunn wholly identifies with the outsider, treating them with a kindness and dignity rarely afforded to them. We see his empathy shine through in characters such as David Dastmalchian's Polka-Dot Man, a criminal who can, well, throw disintegrating polka dots. Of course, his ridiculous skill makes him an outcast even within a team featuring a talking, man-eating shark and a zany clown princess, but the tragic backstory behind Polkie's abilities will tug at viewers' hearts. (It's also worth noting that the glue holding Polkie's arc together is Dastmalchian, who imbues the unexpected anti-hero with a heartbreaking agony that will likely resonate with those who may have struggled with suicidal ideation at some point in their lives. The trailer's tease of Polkie's giddy declaration of "I'm a superhero!" stands as the film's most heartwarming moment.) It's testament to Gunn's storytelling ability that he not only elevates a low-tier Batman villain to superstar status but that he is able to depict dark characters like the Suicide Squad as flawed and relatable people. Again, this wouldn't be possible if Gunn hadn't been gifted with a star-studded and talented cast. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say everyone in the cast, especially those who make up this version of the Squad, are wonderful. Idris Elba as Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) The Suicide Squad marks the return of three faces from the 2016 version: Harley Quinn, Amanda Waller, and Colonel Rick Flag -- and, this time, each character is actually entertaining to follow. Margot Robbie has an edge on her co-stars as this is her third live-action appearance as DC's fan-favorite antiheroine -- Harley last appeared in 2020's underrated Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) -- but she's clearly in her element with The Suicide Squad. Gunn builds on certain visual and story elements set up in Birds of Prey through various standout scenes, such as a bloody and fun fight sequence that embraces "Harley Vision," a visual quirk first introduced in the pages of Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's bestselling run on the character. In fact, Harley gets quite a lot of screen time in this movie, and, depending on who you are, you'll either be delighted or annoyed. For me, I enjoyed the standalone Harley scenes; they stayed true to the tone and humor Gunn was trying to strike with this movie while also giving Robbie yet another opportunity to shine as a dynamic action and comic star. Whether they contribute to the larger narrative of the film can be debated another time, but I loved seeing Robbie in the iconic pigtails again. It's great to see that with each time we see Harley on screen, Robbie is taking her to new places while also staying true to what fans love about the character. Viola Davis reprises her role as Amanda Waller and fully embodies the character's intimidating, force-of-nature quality that makes her so dangerous. Waller may not say much, but she doesn't need to; the moment she throws a look at one of her hapless lackeys in the control room or at a stone-cold assassin like Bloodsport, viewers immediately sense how threatening Waller is. Davis skillfully portrays her as an imposing force with many tricks under her sleeve and a complete disregard for morals and the lives of the poor unfortunate souls drafted to Task Force X. All Waller cares about is completing the mission; no need to dwell on the morals and ethics of the whole ordeal -- and the fact that villains like Harley and Bloodsport is willing to draw a line before charging into battle makes Waller all the more fearsome. As for Joel Kinnaman, he's given the opportunity to bring some much-needed personality to the straight-laced Col. Flag. Unlike Waller, Flag actually cares about getting his team back home alive and is willing to risk his life to ensure the safety and well-being of his team whether by external forces or by Waller's hand. In a movie filled with many strong performances, Kinnaman's stands out because he portrays Flag as a thoughtful human being first and a skillful leader second. Whereas everyone else is morally and ethically dubious, Flag truly believes he is doing the right thing regardless of the circumstances he's working under, making the character's ardent idealism and strong morality his tragic flaw. In addition to returning faces, The Suicide Squad introduces us to some new DC characters who've yet to step into the spotlight, such as Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and Ratcatcher 2. Once again, Idris Elba proves he's the leading man that Hollywood needs to stop sleeping on. He brings a sharp edge to the world-weary and no-nonsense Bloodsport, but as the film progresses, we see the assassin emerge as a sort of de-facto leader of the Squad and learns to trust and care for other people. As for Peacemaker, Bloodsport's ultra-patriotic foil, John Cena turns in a hilarious performance as this brutal and not-so-sharp marksman; rest assured, the upcoming HBO Max spin-off has a witty and capable actor who might not have a problem elevating Peacemaker to an engaging protagonist. (Although one can't help but wonder if a Peacemaker TV show is gonna be a hit or DOA when it premieres next year...) Yet, it's Daniela Melchior who steals the show as Ratcatcher 2. A young thief with the ability to summon and control rats, Ratcatcher approaches the world around her with wide-eyed innocence and pure kindness that is never dampened by the hellish situations she encounters. While most of the Squad is hardened (and traumatized) by their respective personal experiences, Ratcatcher 2 chooses to be kind and empathetic-- even to others who are either freaked out or appalled by her relationship with rats. (By the way, if Ratcatcher's adorable friendship with her beloved pet rat Sebastian doesn't make your heart grow at least one size by the movie's end, then are you really human?) In a film filled with plenty of memorable characters, what makes Ratcatcher 2 a standout is that she acts as the Squad's beating heart, and it's all thanks to Melchior's sensitive and empathetic performance. The Suicide Squad could have fallen apart by the sheer amount of performances on display and an inability to balance them all, but Gunn has once again created a memorable group of characters who are grounded in a surprisingly thoughtful sense of humanity and relatability. In a way, Gunn and his cast ask you not to judge these guys by their names or abilities. Rather, they're asking you to get to know and understand them as (flawed) human beings just doing their best to get by. It's not very often a comic book movie -- let alone a super-team-focused comic book movie -- does that with their characters, so The Suicide Squad provides viewers with a refreshing change of pace on this front. Good: The Action Writer-director James Gunn (right) directing Idris Elba (left) in a scene from The Suicide Squad (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) Remember a time where R-rated comic book movie adaptations seemed like a pie-in-the-sky idea, the type of risk no studio dared to take post-early noughties in favor of all-audiences (read: PG-13) blockbusters? I mean, it's weird to flashback to that time in a post-Deadpool/Logan/Birds of Prey world. We know now there's clearly an audience out there looking for more adult-centered comic book/superhero media (e.g. the Marvel-Netflix Defenders franchise; The Boys, a brutal satire of our current love affair with comic books and superhero movies; and Invincible, a violent and sharp animated adaptation of The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman's hit superhero comic series), and The Suicide Squad corners this market by delivering a wild, over-the-top, and bloody action fest that owes much of its visual pastiche and stunt choreography to grindhouse cinema. Heck, some of the movie's bloodiest and funniest action scenes align the film with the "splat-stick" style of Sam Raimi's initial Evil Dead trilogy -- specifically, 1982's Evil Dead II and its 1992 sequel Army of Darkness. (After all, it makes sense these influences are present given Gunn's early days as a filmmaker under the Troma Entertainment banner.) As I noted earlier, the level of blood and gore on display might end up turning some viewers off, especially if you're expecting this to be a PG-13 affair. I won't sit here and ridicule you for wanting this movie to be PG-13, nor will I criticize you for thinking Gunn goes too far with the gore and violence. I'll admit, there were times where I thought the film seemed a bit too concerned with getting the most out of its R rating where the violence and action are concerned. There's also times where the bloody visuals and action get a little too cartoon-y to be entertaining; as a result, The Suicide Squad can sort of seem like a bit in an "Itchy and Scratchy" gag in the middle of a Simpsons episode. However, I wouldn't say they totally turned me off from the film. Matter of fact, I mostly enjoyed the splat-stick nature of action in the film; they made me laugh and wince in equal measure, and I think that's what Gunn intended. Regarding action, the DCEU has struggled to craft visually entertaining action scenes that add to the narrative while also being enjoyable on their own accord. For the most part, these movies have spent more time emphasizing just how hard Superman and Wonder Woman can punch because good guys punching bad guys never gets old... until it does. In the midst of all the blood, guts, and gore, The Suicide Squad manages to craft action sequences that creatively showcase each character's powers while moving various story and character parts forward. The action doesn't distract from the numerous character arcs at play, nor does it ignore the character and story in favor of focusing solely on creating big, loud, and/or expensive set-pieces. As a result, The Suicide Squad joins Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, and Shazam! in having strong and entertaining action scenes that skillfully balance keeping the story in motion and keeping the audience invested in the characters' journey. Yes, The Suicide Squad can go a smidge too far with its bloody action but it does show restraint when necessary. Naturally, when Gunn reels it in, that's when the action is at its most entertaining and winsome. Mixed: The Political Commentary (from L to R) Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, John Cena as Peacemaker, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller in The Suicide Squad (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) It's a truth universally acknowledged that comic book/superhero movies have always been political. It's been that way since the genesis of the comic book medium, which originated out of the sociopolitical climates various characters were created under. This shouldn't have to be said, but to cry foul over a comic book/superhero movie navigating the complex waters of sociopolitics is a foolish endeavor given that many of the superheroes who have gone on to become global pop culture icons (e.g. Superman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Luke Cage, Batman, Black Panther) have political undertones to their characters both on the page and on the screen. Having said that, I did not expect The Suicide Squad to "get political" as angry 'fans' so often like to scream into the ether whenever a director or a writer decides to mingle real world topics with their fantastical stories. The Suicide Squad is no different in this regard but it stands as a bit of an outlier in the realm of comic book/superhero cinema. It's become a common refrain among critics of these films, particularly the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that comic book/superhero films serve as "military propaganda." In fact, this critique is so common that there are various video essays on YouTube that either discuss the superhero genre's relationship to American military propaganda or how the genre inadvertently promotes American imperialism. Sometimes, these essays critically engage with how the genre tends to contribute to the media's valorizing of America's role as a globalized police force, as well as policing on the domestic level. As easy as it is to dismiss these arguments, they're not entirely wrong. Many television and film projects from Marvel and DC often seek out approval from either branches of the U.S. military or from state law enforcement bodies, thus limiting how much criticism can be made about them. Additionally, some of these projects tend to shift blame onto a fictional stand-in for a U.S. institution (i.e. Captain America: The Winter Soldier's HYDRA reveal) in order to avoid any serious political critique. In the case of The Suicide Squad, Gunn isn't afraid to make some serious critiques about the American government but struggles with how to present them. Some sociopolitical issues manifest in the movie in obvious ways. For example, the fact that a group of convicted felons are being recruited for a deadly mission where those in charge have zero regard for their physical or mental wellbeing instantly calls to mind the 13th Amendment loophole that allowed for the dangerous convict leasing system. Even Amanda Waller herself isn't presented as a "bad apple;" she is representative of the very system we currently have in place. Peacemaker, at best, functions as a brutal satire of the ideology embraced by the modern conservative/right movement; he's willing to do anything in the name of liberty, but his fanatical, misguided patriotism is defined by a lack of morality and ethics. Peacemaker may seem like a laughable guy, thanks to Cena's ability to eek out some jokes about what the character will do in the name of liberty, but the actor has no problem showing just how terrifying Peacemaker's ugly patriotism can be when it's blended with sheer brutality. But Gunn saves his satirical aims for the United States' idea of foreign policy. As evidenced by current events, American foreign policy tends to be more concerned with America's appearance as a global superpower and less with how to actually provide help to foreign nations in desperate need of resources and assistance. Rarely is the time taken to critically examine the harmful effects of American imperialism or how Americans themselves might have played a role in the nation's push for global cultural dominance. I remember reading a comment online where someone described American foreign policy as "America cosplaying like their helping foreign nations when they're really [screwing] up their economy, resources, and people," and I can't help but agree with that sentiment -- especially since America has a history of being a walking imperialist disaster. The Suicide Squad is the rare comic book/superhero film that refuses to gloss over how historically horrible the U.S. government has been, and continues to be, toward foreign countries. Nor does it shift the blame to some fictitious organization; how the system acts in the film, as well as how the characters behave when they land in Corto Maltese, is representative of current American foreign policy. However, Gunn seems to present this as a byproduct of the film's narrative. Despite numerous scenes repeatedly emphasizing how fucked up American imperialism is and how a globalized American police force embodies Americans' imagined fears of what terrorism looks like, The Suicide Squad avoids making this message central to the film. I found this strange because, honestly, this is one of the more political comic book films I've seen in a long time. Gunn isn't afraid to ask questions about the institutions so many Americans put their faith in, nor is he afraid to explore why some have are skeptical about them to begin with. Moreover, Gunn acknowledges that there are flaws in the United States' foundations, as well as in the normalized embrace of "America First", an ideology that has since mutated into a scary form of nationalism. To refuse to acknowledge these flaws is dangerous, and Gunn is seemingly aware of this; it's a thread that pops up at various points in the movie, especially when the Squad encounters The Thinker (Peter Capaldi, Doctor Who) while in Corto Maltese. Yet, The Suicide Squad approaches these topics with a bit of a shrug. I'm surprised there wasn't a scene where Harley pulls a Jim and deadpans into camera, "It is what is, folks!" Again, I didn't walk into this movie expecting mind-blowing and thoughtful political commentary. (I wasn't sure what to expect out of this movie in the first place) So, I'll give props to Gunn for approaching the heady and complex topic of American imperialism-cosplaying-as American foreign policy-- as well as the ugliness of rabid, blind-faith patriotism -- with genuine-seeming skepticism and unease. To some extent, The Suicide Squad subverts a common war movie trope: America is always depicted as the good guys. Not only do they fight with their guns and knives, they also fight using logic, reason, and, of course, patriotism. Their foreign enemies, always other-ized, are often depicted as brutish, violent, and irrational. The Squad are positioned the good guys, but Gunn leaves room for the viewer to question whether that's the case. I just wish that Gunn was a bit more direct with his line of questioning and skepticism over the idealized vision and values of America and its government; he clearly isn't afraid to address the elephant in the room, but he doesn't seem quite sure if that should be central to the narrative. In Conclusion (from L to R) Joel Kinnaman as Col. Rick Flag, Alice Braga as Sol Soria, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, and John Cena as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021) As I said in the beginning, I had no intention on seeing The Suicide Squad at first. This is one of those rare times where curiosity pushed me to buying a movie ticket, but I'm glad I bit the bullet and chose to see it. This might be one of my favorite films in the DC Extended Universe (still not a fan of that name) thus far. Filled to the brim with splat-stick action and delightful performances from its star-studded cast, The Suicide Squad is equal parts darkly comic, gleefully wild, and purely entertaining. I had an absolute blast watching this movie, and it's been a long time since I've had this much fun watching a comic book/superhero movie. I'm absolutely looking forward to watching it again and again when it hits HBO Max outside of the Warner Bros. "same day premiere" format. (ED. NOTE: Below, I have links to three articles-- one a review, the other two essays -- that offer three different and thoughtful perspectives on the film; I urge them to check them out if you like. If you don't want to, then that's cool; you do you, as the kids say.) Further Reading The Suicide Squad Promotional Artwork (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Entertainment | 2021)
What did you think of The Suicide Squad? Share your thoughts below! This Blerd is Online:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood BlerdHello, one and all.
Welcome to the mothership and prepare to go on a fantastic voyage through the Blerd space-time continnum! I'm Makayla; it's nice to meet you! Pronouns are they/she. Archives
September 2023
Categories
All
|