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===Box office===
===Box office===
The film grossed $900,000 from its early Thursday screenings and $4.8 million on its opening day. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $13.5 million, which was about $5 million below expectations, finishing 3rd at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-straight-outta-compton-815650|title=Box Office: 'Straight Outta Compton' Breaks Out With Massive $56.1M|author=Gregg Kilday|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=([[Prometheus Global Media]])|date=August 16, 2015|accessdate=August 16, 2015}}</ref>
The film grossed $900,000 from its early Thursday screenings and $4.8 million on its opening day. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $13.5 million, which was about $5 million below expectations, finishing 3rd at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-straight-outta-compton-815650|title=Box Office: 'Straight Outta Compton' Breaks Out With Massive $56.1M|author=Gregg Kilday|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=([[Prometheus Global Media]])|date=August 16, 2015|accessdate=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

It had a successful opening in Russia due to its [[Cold War]]-theme with $3.1 million.<ref name="Overseas3rdOpening"/> In the United Kingdom, it opened alongside [[Sony Pictures]]' ''[[Pixels (2015 film)|Pixels]]'' earning $2.3 million, debuting at No. 1 for Friday-Sunday while Sony's Pixels was at No. 1 with $4.2 million including previews during the week. Warner did not preview ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.''.<ref name="Overseas3rdOpening">{{cite web|url=http://deadline.com/2015/08/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-fantastic-four-brothers-the-man-from-uncle-international-box-office-results-1201499958/|title=‘Rogue Nation’ Revs Up $46M More; ‘Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ Spies $12M; ‘Brothers’ Shows Muscle – Intl B.O. Update|author=Nancy Tartaglione|work=''[[Deadline.com]]''|publisher=([[Penske Media Corporation]])|date=August 16, 2015|accessdate=August 17, 2015}}</ref> Across Asia, it generated $2.7 million from six countries and $1.2 million in Australia.<ref name="Overseas3rdOpening"/>


===Critical response===
===Critical response===

Revision as of 23:17, 16 August 2015

For the original 1960s TV series, see The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGuy Ritchie
Screenplay by
  • Guy Ritchie
  • Lionel Wigram
Story by
  • Jeff Kleeman
  • David Campbell Wilson
  • Guy Ritchie
  • Lionel Wigram
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJohn Mathieson
Edited byJames Herbert
Music byDaniel Pemberton
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • August 7, 2015 (2015-08-07) (London premiere)
  • August 14, 2015 (2015-08-14) (United States)
Running time
116 minutes[1]
LandVereinigte Staaten
SpracheEnglisch
Budget$50 million[2]
Box office$13.5 million[3]

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an action comedy spy film directed by Guy Ritchie and co-written by Lionel Wigram and Ritchie, based on the 1964 MGM television series of the same name, which was created by Sam Rolfe. The film stars Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki and Hugh Grant. The film was released on August 14, 2015.

Plot

In 1963 East Berlin, Ex-Con turned leading CIA agent Napoleon Solo is tasked with tracking down a woman named Gabby Teller. Solo finds her working in an auto-repair shop and informs her that he is with the American government. He explains that Gabby's missing father is a Nazi scientist who had worked for the U.S. government and that her Uncle Rudi is suspected to have knowledge of her fathers whereabouts. Whilst Gabby herself denies having any knowledge of her estranged fathers location she agrees to help him after being warned that if she stays in Berlin, she will be killed. Napolean becomes aware that he has been followed since his arrival at the shop and as they leave they are pursued and shot at by Illya Kuryakin, a top KGB agent who impresses Solo with his reckless pursuit and by nearly stopping their car by hand. In the end, Solo manages to transport Gabby over the Berlin Wall into West Berlin, with Illya left behind.

The following day, Solo meets his handler, Saunders, in a park's mens room to be told of his new objective when suddenly Kuryakin walks in. The two fight it out before Saunders, and his KGB counterpart Oleg, arrive and stop them only to announce that the two are now partners. They reveal that Gabby's Uncle Rudi works for an Italian shipping company owned by Alexander and Victoria Vinciguerra, Victoria being the true brains of the operation despite her husbands wealth, whose father was suspected of smuggling Nazi gold out of Europe to Argentina after WWII ended. Using Rudi as an informant, the two are planning to use Gabby's father to create their own private nuclear weapon. The KGB and CIA insist the two agents work together, although each man is under private orders to steal the important computer data for their respective governments.

In a private talk, the spies tensely detail what they know of each other. Solo was a former U.S. soldier who turned to art theft, stealing and selling antiques and artwork across Europe. Finally captured, the CIA felt his talents were too valuable to waste in prison and offered him a role in the CIA in exchange for his fifteen year sentence. Kuryakin mocks Solo's criminal history and in turn Solo harshly describes Kuryakins dark past. Kuryakin's father was a former high-ranking aide for Stalin but was convicted of embezzling funds and sent to Siberia, imprisoned in a gulag there. His mother also held a reputation as a whore, and upon Solo's insult of her, he suddenly stands, overturns the table and leaves. Illya is prone to psychotic episodes as a result of his anger and history of shame and is strongly affected by his remaining pride.

Solo meets Gabby later during an undisclosed time period in an italian boutique where she is trying on expensive clothes. Solo gives her his opinions on her fashion taste when Kuryakin turns up and does the same, revealing that she must go undercover as his fiancée as part of the mission. Gabby is outraged to learn that her cover is to introduce Kuryakin as her architect fiancé to her uncle but Solo insists they go on. The trio travel to Rome and check into a hotel in the centre of the city to await further orders. Solo believes that enemy agents are watching them and that they mustn't react to any threat as it will blow their cover. During a mock romantic walk with Gabby through the city, Kuryakin is tested by a pair of goons who proceed to steal his father's watch and he forces himself not to fight them. Gabby is able to calm him down, thus establishing that Kuryakin has feelings for her. Upon their return to the hotel, Solo seduces the hotel desk clerk into sex and as she leaves, discovers that tracking devices have been placed in his belongings and throughout the suite. In the other hotel room, Kuryakin is sulking as a result of losing the watch and Gabby offers vodka to relax him. As he refuses, she walks into the bedroom and turns on the radio, proceeding to dance through the hotel room. Kuryakin moves to go to bed and end her silliness when she repeatedly blocks him. After tempting him to dance with her, she then wrestles him to the floor but before they kiss, passes out leaving the agent to carry her to bed. The next morning, both men confront one other with how each had planted listening devices in the other's room.

The next day the trio are sent to spy at an exclusive race track party hosted by the Vinciguerra's. Solo steals an invitation off of a man called Waverly and impresses Victoria with his skills as a thief by stealing her own jewelry. He offers her help in "filling the gaps" in her art collection and she begins to see him as an interesting asset. Gabby introduces Kuryakin to her uncle who insults him for being Russian, Kuryakin excuses himself and takes out his anger by beating up a trio of men in a bathroom. Gabby flirts with Alexander Vinciguerra before the group leaves, leading to him offering her a job in his corporation and inviting her on a date. After checking secret photos he took, Kuryakin finds evidence Victoria and Alexander were recently near radiation and theorizes that the bomb must be close.

That night, Solo and Kuryakin find each other breaking into the same shipping yard for evidence and reluctantly agree to work together. They discover a safe which Solo opens but the uranium for the bomb is already gone. After triggering an alarm, They are chased by guards into the nearby bay. Kuryakin attempts to escape the enemy in a boat while Solo swims to shore to find shelter in a parked truck. After seeing Kuryakins boat set alight and destroyed, He then drives the truck off the pier to crush the enemy boat. As the boat and truck sink, the headlights illuminate the unconscious illya drowning and Napolean dives down to save him. Hearing of the break-in, Victoria goes to the hotel to catch the agents red handed but Solo manages to return to his room before she does, managing to seduce her into sex. The next day, Solo meets with Victoria as Gabby meets with Rudi and Alexander at their mansion with Kuryakin listening in. He overhears Gabby betraying their mission and explains that she had been using them the whole time, leaving Illya to run to safety as hounds are released. Now that Gabby is an accomplice, Victoria drugs Solo and abducts him. He wakes up tied to a chair in a private room with Rudi, who reveals himself to be an infamously sadistic Nazi torturer. Rudi shows him a book full of photos of his victims and uses an electric chair to torture Solo to the point of internal bleeding. Kuryakin breaks into the room and frees Solo, putting Rudi in his place. Much to Solo's distaste, Kuryakin uses the chair to make Rudi tell them that the bomb is being kept at an island fortress. The two spies leave the room to discuss what to do with Rudi but a short-circuit causes the chair to electrocute the Nazi, causing him to burn to death. At the island, Gabby meets her father for the first time in years. She slaps him for what he has done but he reveals that he only did it because he was held against his will. Together they attempt to sabotage the bomb but are caught by Victoria. Victoria orders Gabby to be taken away and killed and forces Gabby's father to complete the bomb. After he reluctantly hands over the data, Victoria promises that he'll see his daughter soon and shoots him point blank.

Solo and Kuryakin are picked up by Waverly, who turns out to be a British agent, and reveals that Gabby has been working for British intelligence for two years and that the CIA and KGB nearly ruined the operation to find her father. Kuryakin is reluctant to believe Gabbys innocence but is also relieved. Solo receives a private message telling him to kill Kuryakin as soon as the mission ends, leaving the man heavily conflicted. The two men lead the MI5 taskforce in an attack on the island whilst Alexander drives the armed bomb and captured Gabby away on a jeep. Solo pursues in a dune buggy while Kuryakin chases on a motorcycle. Solo keeps close tail but Kuryakin punctures two of the tires, leaving Solo and Gabby helpless to watch as the Jeep throws Kuryakin from his bike. Kuryakin is left dazed and as Solo attempts to pull a wounded Gabby from the vehicle, Alexander attacks him leaving him and the injured Gabby to fight him off. During the fight, Alexander nearly kills Solo but Kuryakin regains consciousness and stabs him. While Solo transmits their information to Waverly, Kuryakin cradles Gabby and helps her to stand. Waverly warns that the missile Solo destroyed is not the nuclear one and that Victoria is in possession of the armed weapon. Solo figures out she is using her father's old fishing boat to smuggle the nuke to a sub where her Nazi allies are waiting. Solo tricks Victoria into issuing threats to him, taunting her into believing that her husband died a begging coward, and uses the radio signal to have the missile they possess to be fired from the British military's Air-craft carrier and explode the boat. Waverly confirms that the bomb and Victoria have been destroyed.

After returning to Rome, Gabby moves to kiss Illya goodbye but is interrupted by Waverly's men. Before her security take her away, Illya hands her her 'engagement' ring, telling Gabby to keep it as a momento if they never meet again. Now alone, Illya hears from Oleg that Solo is in possession of the data disk and threatens him with the same fate that his father met if he doesn't kill the American. Illya becomes enraged and destroys the hotel room. When Kuryakin enters his room, Solo suspects that something isn't right and moves the gun in his suitcase within reaching distance. Seeing that Kuryakin is moving to pull a weapon on him once his back is turned, he turns and holds out Kuryakins fathers watch, revealing that he found it on an enemy agent. Kuryakin realises that he cannot kill Solo and Solo reveals that he had decided to against their shared objective, kill the other. The two men decide to destroy the disc, rather than allow either of their countries get a major advantage over the other. Waverly and Gabby appear just as the characters are about to leave, informing the spies that they are now working under Waverly and his new organization: U.N.C.L.E. with a new case awaiting them in Istanbul.

Cast

Production

Development

Producer John Davis optioned the film rights to the 1960s TV series in 1993, setting up a development deal for an adaptation with Warner Bros. and series producer Norman Felton. Davis has estimated that he commissioned 12 or 14 different scripts over the course of 20 years, with writers Jim and John Thomas, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, and Scott Z. Burns. Quentin Tarantino was briefly attached following the success of Pulp Fiction, but opted to make Jackie Brown instead. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. continued to labor in development hell with directors Matthew Vaughn and David Dobkin.[11] Steven Soderbergh was attached to direct Scott Z. Burns' screenplay, with production slated to begin in March 2012. Executives from Warner Bros. wanted the budget to stay below $60 million, but Soderbergh felt that amount would not be adequate to fund the 1960s-era sets, props, and international settings required for the film.[12] Emily Blunt was nearly cast as the female lead,[13] but Soderbergh departed in November 2011.[14]

Guy Ritchie signed on in March 2013.[15] On July 31, 2013, it was announced that Ritchie's adaptation would start filming in September 2013 in London and Italy.[16][17]

Casting

In November 2010, George Clooney showed interest in the film,[18] and was in talks for the lead role of Napoleon Solo, but he left in September 2011 due to a recurring back injury.[19][20] After Clooney's departure, actors including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ryan Gosling, Channing Tatum, Alexander Skarsgård, Ewan McGregor, Robert Pattinson, Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender, Bradley Cooper, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Kinnaman, Russell Crowe, Chris Pine, Ryan Reynolds, and Jon Hamm were considered for the lead role.[21] On March 18, 2013, Tom Cruise was in early talks to take the lead in the film.[15] Armie Hammer was cast in the second lead role as Illya Kuryakin on April 24, 2013, with Cruise set as Solo.[5] Swedish actress Alicia Vikander joined the film on May 8, 2013, as the female lead.[6] On May 23, 2013, Cruise dropped out of the film, due to his commitment to Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.[22][23] British actor Henry Cavill replaced Cruise.[2][4][24] Elizabeth Debicki was cast in a femme fatale role on July 31, 2013; Rose Byrne and Charlize Theron were earlier considered for the same part.[25] On August 8, 2013, Hugh Grant joined the cast as Alexander Waverly, the head of United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.[8] Jared Harris was cast as Saunders on September 4, 2013,[7] and Luca Calvani was cast as a villain, Alexander.[9] Simona Caparrini was also cast to play Contessa.[10]

Filming

Principal photography on the film commenced on September 9, 2013.[26] Circa October 25, 2013, filming was being underway at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Royal Victoria Docks, London and Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit in West Sussex, UK.

Filming also took place in a number of locations in Italy, including the Spanish Steps, the Gulf of Naples, and Baiae Castle.[27]

Music

On July 17, 2014, Daniel Pemberton was hired to score the music for the film.[28]

Release

The film was originally set for a January 16, 2015 release,[29] but on August 12, 2014, Warner Bros moved the film's release date back to August 14, 2015.[30]

Reception

Box office

The film grossed $900,000 from its early Thursday screenings and $4.8 million on its opening day. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $13.5 million, which was about $5 million below expectations, finishing 3rd at the box office.[31]

It had a successful opening in Russia due to its Cold War-theme with $3.1 million.[32] In the United Kingdom, it opened alongside Sony Pictures' Pixels earning $2.3 million, debuting at No. 1 for Friday-Sunday while Sony's Pixels was at No. 1 with $4.2 million including previews during the week. Warner did not preview The Man from U.N.C.L.E..[32] Across Asia, it generated $2.7 million from six countries and $1.2 million in Australia.[32]

Critical response

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. received praise from critics for its cast, stylishness, and sense of fun, but drew criticism for its standard plot. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 67%, based on 166 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. tries to distract from an unremarkable story with charismatic stars and fizzy set pieces, adding up to an uneven action thriller with just enough style to overcome its lack of substance."[33] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 54 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[34] On CinemaScore, audiences gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[35]

References

  1. ^ "THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Burlingame, Jon (July 31, 2013). "Guy Ritchie, Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer Try to Crack 'U.N.C.L.E.' Movie Challenge". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "'Man of Steel' Star Henry Cavill Eyes Lead in WB's 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". variety.com. May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "'Lone Ranger' Armie Hammer To Star With Tom Cruise In 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". deadline.com. April 24, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Alicia Vikander Finds Her 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' for Warners". variety.com. May 8, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Jared Harris Joins 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'
  8. ^ a b "Hugh Grant Joins 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.'". hollywoodreporter.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Luca Calvani Lands Villain In 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.,' Signs With Paradigm". deadline.com. September 12, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Simona Caparrini Talks About Henry Cavill on Set of The Man From U.N.C.L.E." www.HenryCavill.org. February 27, 2014.
  11. ^ Jon Burlingame (July 31, 2013). "Guy Ritchie, Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer Try to Crack 'U.N.C.L.E.' Movie Challenge". Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  12. ^ "Steven Soderbergh Spies Other Plans, Won't Direct 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". indiewire.com. November 18, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  13. ^ Justin Kroll (April 16, 2012). "Blunt joins Cruise in 'All You Need Is Kill'". Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  14. ^ "Steven Soderbergh Exits Warner Bros.' 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". hollywoodreporter.com. November 18, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Tom Cruise Eyeing 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' With Guy Ritchie At Warner Bros". deadline.com. March 18, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  16. ^ "The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Finally Starts Filming in September". comingsoon.net. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  17. ^ "'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' aims to start filming in September". hitfix.com. August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  18. ^ "George Clooney Interested in Steven Soderbergh's 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Remake". slashfilm.com. November 17, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  19. ^ "George Clooney Dropping Out Of Steven Soderbergh's 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". deadline.com. August 29, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  20. ^ "George Clooney back injury forced 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' exit, says writer". digitalspy.co.uk. September 7, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  21. ^ "Bradley Cooper Will Not Be Steven Soderbergh's 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". slashfilm.com. November 10, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  22. ^ "Tom Cruise Exits 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' Due to 'Mission: Impossible 5'". firstshowing.net. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  23. ^ "Tom Cruise Exits 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.;' Warner Bros Recasting For Fall Start". deadline.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  24. ^ "Henry Cavill In Talks For 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Lead". deadline.com. May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  25. ^ "'Great Gatsby's' Elizabeth Debicki Attracted to 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". variety.com. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  26. ^ "Production begins on 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'". gmanetwork.com. September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  27. ^ Katie Amey (July 24, 2015). "From the iconic Piazza de Spagna in Rome to the picturesque Bay of Naples: New Guy Ritchie film The Man From U.N.C.L.E. highlights Italy's breathtaking beauty spots". Daily Mail. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  28. ^ "Daniel Pemberton to Score Guy Ritchie's 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'". filmmusicreporter.com. July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  29. ^ "Warner Bros Dates 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' For 2015 MLK Weekend; Will Smith's 'Focus' Set For February 2015". deadline.com. February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  30. ^ "Warner Bros. Dates 'American Sniper'; Moves 'Point Break', 'Man From U.N.C.L.E'". deadline.com. August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  31. ^ Gregg Kilday (August 16, 2015). "Box Office: 'Straight Outta Compton' Breaks Out With Massive $56.1M". The Hollywood Reporter. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  32. ^ a b c Nancy Tartaglione (August 16, 2015). "'Rogue Nation' Revs Up $46M More; 'Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Spies $12M; 'Brothers' Shows Muscle – Intl B.O. Update". Deadline.com. (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved August 17, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  33. ^ "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  34. ^ "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  35. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (August 15, 2015). "'Compton' Rivals Previous August Tentpoles With $22.8M Friday; 'U.N.C.L.E.' Shows Gray Hair – Late Night B.O." Deadline.com. (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved August 15, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
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