![]() ![]() The rest of the women (you might as well get used to calling them the Birds of Prey) don't entirely take up the slack, and after a while the picture deteriorates into an endless stompathon. The movie's attempts to humanize this bad-to-the-bone character (we see her doting on a pet hyena and obsessing-not once but twice-over a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich) tend to dilute her maniac charm. ![]() Robbie, with her tiny black-heart tattoo, rhinestone-studded eyebrows and pink-wheeled roller skates, is everything you'd hope for. And while her decision to give Harley a brief fantasy scene singing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in Marilyn Monroe drag is curious, it's hardly worth objecting to. She opens the movie with some animated backstory to explain Harley's adventures to date, and she details the many reasons that Roman Sionis hates the pigtailed nutjob in a series of onscreen chyrons (one of them says "voted for Bernie"). There's Helena Bertinelli (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a black-clad avenger who stalks bad guys with a crossbow Dinah Lance (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), a nightclub singer whose voice can do serious damage and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), an ex-police detective who's now free to mete out real justice to Gotham's many malefactors.ĭirector Yan has devised an efficient visual shorthand to tell her tale. In short order, Harley begins accumulating a girl gang. It involves a Gotham gang chieftain named Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask (Ewan McGregor, having a ton of fun in black gloves and peach-colored suits), and a bratty little pickpocket named Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco), who has stolen-and swallowed-a giant diamond that's much-coveted by Mr. Very soon, though, she finds a new purpose in life. Harley tries to cheer herself up by detonating the chemical plant where she and the demented clown met ("If you want boys to respect you, you have to blow somethin' up," she correctly notes), but still, she's sad. This is excellent news for all who remember the lackluster Suicide Squad, and who hope never to see Jared Leto in that role again. ![]() We begin with the news that Harley Quinn (Robbie), the psycho ex-psychiatrist of the Arkham Asylum, has broken up with her boyfriend and former patient, the Joker. It's a little nasty at times-not in an edgy way, just an unpleasant one-and the script, by Christina Hodson ( Bumblebee), contents itself with a plot that's simple pulp, leaving all the head-kicks and glitter guns to carry the picture. The movie is big, brawling, leg-breaking fun from end to end, filled with action that's freshly thought-out and whompingly well-staged. Props must also go to Cathy Yan, a former journalist directing only her second feature (and first attempted tentpole), for having excellent taste in Hong Kong-style action, and for bringing in Stahelski and his stunt company, 87eleven, to add extra punch to reshoots. Sure, Margot Robbie is the lovable-dingbat face of this production-and very enjoyable she is-but it's stunt-master Stahelski, director of the John Wick movies, who gives the picture a lot of its lift and kick. Contrary to what you may have heard, the real star of Birds of Prey (let's ignore the clunky subtitle) is Chad Stahelski. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |