-Written by Kyle Bain.
In 2016 Winston Churchill’s private files were made public. In them contained the information regarding the first ever special ops mission–one that occurred against the Nazis during WWII. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is that story.
There is very little wrong with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but the issues that do occur are incredibly off putting (at least in the moment). One glaring issue is with the sound. It sort of fades in and out in some moments, and that alone would make it challenging for viewers to hear and understand the things taking place on screen. However, given the cast and the subject matter, a plethora of accents exist throughout the film. Danish, Swedish, English, and more–often existing in the same conversation. It’s already difficult enough to decipher so many accents–but with the issues surrounding the sound, it becomes even more so. Then there was one, isolated incident with the editing. Does it affect The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare in a major way? No. However, this glaring oversight sticks out like a sore thumb, and there’s no way that even a novice movie goer will miss this. Things like these aforementioned issues often result from a level of laziness or incompetence. Now, I’d hate to accuse this team of being either of these things, but regardless of the reason behind why these issues exist, they are there.
Beyond these issues, however, exists a brilliant film that is sure to enthrall viewers. If you like watching Nazis be brutally murdered, this film is for you. If you enjoy an action-packed venture with stunning choreography and cinematography, this film is for you. If you enjoy having a few laughs, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is for you. Writer-Director Guy Ritchie’s film is one that has the ability to appeal to a series of different audiences, and he delivers on each of these aspects, effectively ensuring his film success.
Led by Henry Cavill (Gus March-Phillips), Alan Ritchson (Anders Lassen), Alex Pettyfer (Geoffrey Appleyard), and a series of other talented, A-list actors, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is well acted–and there’s no doubt that viewers anticipated this. This group, along with the others that play major roles in the film, have a long history of bringing eccentric and wildly interesting characters to life–and, once again, they thrive in their roles.
In a film that ultimately focuses on eliminating the Nazi power and restoring balance to a faltering world, there is a lot of comedy. Comedy is sort of woven into the fabric of the film, and it’s done wonderfully well. What typically presents itself as dry humor throughout the course of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare plays a brilliant role in developing juxtapositional tones. Likewise, the score and soundtrack help to create this balance as well. In moments of intensity, viewers are presented with comedy and sound that often combats the content of those moments. I’m impressed by what Ritchie and the rest of the team are able to accomplish here, spanning the full spectrum of emotion in a single moment, and doing it well. Nothing feels frumpy in this regard, and everything marries nicely to create something truly appealing.
There are certainly some things that were overlooked during the production of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but they aren’t things that ruin the film–just things that make you go “hmmm.” I found myself upset by these things, but they were so heavily outweighed by the good of this film, everything from cinematography and acting to soundtrack and set design, that I was ultimately able to overlook them. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a film of immense fun and I guarantee that you’ll love it.
Directed by Guy Ritchie.
Written by Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Arash Amel, Guy Ritchie, & Damien Lewis.
Starring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzlez, Babs Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Rory Kinnear, Til Schweiger, Freddie Fox, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
