Kingsman: The Secret Service
Kingsman: The Secret Service
(2015)
A Review by Grant Kanigan
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Written by: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman,
based on Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons' comic book
Starring: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson,
Mark Hamill, Michael Caine, Mark Strong
Rating: 14A*
Release Date: February 13th, 2015
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| Taron Egerton and Michael Caine share a drink in Kingsman: The Secret Service © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation |
Spies have always been fodder for the most exciting of cinema; The Day of the Jackal, Where Eagles Dare, The Bourne films, the entire Bond franchise, The Eiger Sanction, or even Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy are all renowned classics of the genre, and continue to be thoroughly successful, (the last Bond film, Skyfall grossed $1.1 billion dollars). Yet, as cinema has been gleefully aware, most spy films are absurd, and most are about as realistic as Mary Poppins. The greatest strength of Matthew Vaughn's, Kingsman: The Secret Service, then, is it's keen awareness of both the strong suits and absurdities of the greatest spy films.
Kingsman follows Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin, (Taron Egerton), in his immediate post-graduation years from high school. A reject of the Marine corps by his own accord, Eggsy's unemployed days are filled with bar fights and joy rides. Burning the candle at both ends, Eggsy finds his life turned topsy turvy after an arrest for disturbing the peace. Calling in a favour with his late father's colleague, Harry Hart, (Colin Firth), Eggsy soon finds himself miraculously out of jail and under the tutelage of Hart, a spy in the Kingsman Secret Service, (a service so secret the other spy agencies in the film aren't even aware of it's existence). Soon under consideration for an opening spot in the Kingsman Secret Service, Eggsy's will, personal character and class values are put to the test. The gauntlet of tests go from extreme, (jumping out of a plane without a parachute), to ridiculous, (raising a puppy throughout his espionage school matriculation). All is well until billionaire inventor and philanthropist Richmond Valentine starts placing targets on the Kingsmen's backs. Under the guise of charity, Valentine plans to send the world into anarchistic chaos via a signal that will force everyone within the signal cave into their most violent primal instincts, wreaking carnage throughout the world's biggest population centres.
All in all, it's a ridiculously complex and totally silly plot, played with absolute conviction by the a-list cast. The script is a brilliant send up of espionage cinema while also a loving homage. Kingsman rides a razor thin line between absurdity and earnestness resulting in a strong Monty Python/Naked Gun vibe while retaining the cool factor of the first few Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan Bond films. It's no easy feat, and the ability of Vaughn to have his comedy/action cake and eat it too is ridiculously entertaining.
While the script's self-awareness and likability is on the page, it's helped a great deal in part by the brilliant acting; Samuel L. Jackson's deliciously evil Valentine is so ridiculously over the top, his Steve Jobs-like persona is believable, and his perfectly timed lisp is absolutely hilarious. Firth, who, while a decent actor, has been somewhat underwhelming in the limp The King's Speech and Bridget Jones' Diary, is here confident, charismatic and dryly hilarious. It's some of his best work in years. Newcomer Egerton, is equally charismatic and funny. His cocky, arrogant attitude is perfectly underplayed by his many moments of foolishness, earnestness and ignorance. I can't wait to see where Egerton goes next. On top of the excellent performances, is the best cinematography I've seen in an action film since the first Matrix.
Two of the most dazzling action sequences in recent memory are worth the price of admission alone. The first takes place in a church containing 100 people and our hero, Hart. Once a test run of Valentine's technology is running, the church explodes into an orgy of violence. The soundtrack blares, and fine-tuned choreographed chaos runs for nearly the entire running time of the beautifully selected Lynyrd Skynyrd track "Free Bird." From the weapons people use, to the absurd ways they act, all with the soundtrack synced up to the action, the scene is exuberantly shot, and darkly hilarious. The second sequence is the best use of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" in cinema. Syncing up the canon shots in Tchaikovsky's opus to people's heads exploding is a brilliant stroke of genius. It would be fantastic to see what Vaughn and company could do with a film with more serious subject matter, but honestly, when Kingsman is so damn entertaining, who cares?
Overall, while it's a completely absurd film, Kingsman is intelligent satire, and is able to sneak in some interesting commentary on classism, sexism, environmentalism, socioeconomic politics and globalization. With a unique cast of villains and heroes fleshed out by superb actors, inventive cinematography and a calculated, smart script, Kingsman: The Secret Service is an early contender for the best action film of 2015.
All in all, it's a ridiculously complex and totally silly plot, played with absolute conviction by the a-list cast. The script is a brilliant send up of espionage cinema while also a loving homage. Kingsman rides a razor thin line between absurdity and earnestness resulting in a strong Monty Python/Naked Gun vibe while retaining the cool factor of the first few Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan Bond films. It's no easy feat, and the ability of Vaughn to have his comedy/action cake and eat it too is ridiculously entertaining.
While the script's self-awareness and likability is on the page, it's helped a great deal in part by the brilliant acting; Samuel L. Jackson's deliciously evil Valentine is so ridiculously over the top, his Steve Jobs-like persona is believable, and his perfectly timed lisp is absolutely hilarious. Firth, who, while a decent actor, has been somewhat underwhelming in the limp The King's Speech and Bridget Jones' Diary, is here confident, charismatic and dryly hilarious. It's some of his best work in years. Newcomer Egerton, is equally charismatic and funny. His cocky, arrogant attitude is perfectly underplayed by his many moments of foolishness, earnestness and ignorance. I can't wait to see where Egerton goes next. On top of the excellent performances, is the best cinematography I've seen in an action film since the first Matrix.
Two of the most dazzling action sequences in recent memory are worth the price of admission alone. The first takes place in a church containing 100 people and our hero, Hart. Once a test run of Valentine's technology is running, the church explodes into an orgy of violence. The soundtrack blares, and fine-tuned choreographed chaos runs for nearly the entire running time of the beautifully selected Lynyrd Skynyrd track "Free Bird." From the weapons people use, to the absurd ways they act, all with the soundtrack synced up to the action, the scene is exuberantly shot, and darkly hilarious. The second sequence is the best use of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" in cinema. Syncing up the canon shots in Tchaikovsky's opus to people's heads exploding is a brilliant stroke of genius. It would be fantastic to see what Vaughn and company could do with a film with more serious subject matter, but honestly, when Kingsman is so damn entertaining, who cares?
Overall, while it's a completely absurd film, Kingsman is intelligent satire, and is able to sneak in some interesting commentary on classism, sexism, environmentalism, socioeconomic politics and globalization. With a unique cast of villains and heroes fleshed out by superb actors, inventive cinematography and a calculated, smart script, Kingsman: The Secret Service is an early contender for the best action film of 2015.
Grant's Rating: 4/5 Stars
Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson in Kingsman: The Secret Service: "Spy Movies"
*Note: While Kingsman: The Secret Service is rated 14A it's definitely aimed at a more mature audience. Rated R by the MPAA, the film is chock full of violence and profanity.
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