THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. [2015] [Blu-ray + Digital HD Ultraviolet] [UK Release] Guy Ritchie Gives Bond A Run For His Money! Saving The World Never Goes Out Of Style! Slick, Sexy, Stylish, And Impossibly Cool!
‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ is set at the height of the Cold War in the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo [Henry Cavill] and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin [Armie Hammer] must put aside longstanding hostilities to stop a mysterious international criminal organization bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of world power. With only one lead, the agents race to find a vanished German scientist who is the key to infiltrating the organization in this cool, stylish action-adventure from director Guy Ritchie.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2015 Golden Schmoes Awards: Nominated: Most Underrated Movie of the Year. 2015 San Diego Film Critics Society Awards: Win: Best Body of Work for Alicia Vikander. 2016 Central Ohio Film Critics Association: Win: Actor of the Year for Alicia Vikander. Win: Breakthrough Film Artist for Alicia Vikander. 2016 Georgia Film Critics Association: Win: Breakthrough Award for Alicia Vikander. 2016 International Film Music Critics Award: Nominated: Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film for Daniel Pemberton. 2016 World Soundtrack Awards: Nominated: Public Choice Award for Daniel Pemberton. Nominated: World Soundtrack Award for Film Composer of the Year for Daniel Pemberton.
FILM FACT No.2: In November 2010, George Clooney showed interest in the film, and was in talks for the lead role of Napoleon Solo, but he left in September 2011 due to a recurring back injury. After George 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. On March 18, 2013, Tom Cruise was in early talks to take the lead in the film. Armie Hammer was cast in the second lead role as Illya Kuryakin on April 24, 2013, with Tom Cruise set as Napoleon Solo. Swedish actress Alicia Vikander joined the film on May 8, 2013, as the female lead. On May 23, 2013, Tom Cruise dropped out of the film, due to his commitment to ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.’ British actor Henry Cavill of course replaced Tom Cruise. 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. On August 8, 2013, Hugh Grant joined the cast as Alexander Waverly, the head of United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E). Jared Harris was cast as Adrian Sanders on September 4, 2013, and Luca Calvani was cast as a villain, Alexander Vinciguerra. Simona Caparrini was also cast to play Contessa. Principal photography on the film commenced on September 9, 2013. In October 2013, filming was being under way at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Royal Victoria Docks, London and Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit in West Sussex, UK. Filming took place in various locations throughout Italy, including the Gulf of Naples, and Baiae Castle. Illya Kuryakin and Gaby Teller's first outings as an assumed couple were shot at just below the Spanish Steps; the Grand Hotel Plaza, in Via del Corso; and in the gardens of ancient Theater of Marcellus. Two locations stood in place for Berlin sites on either side of the wall: the public toilet fight between Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin was shot in Regent's Park in London, while the car chase during the film's first act was shot in Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent UK.
Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Luca Calvani, Sylvester Groth, Hugh Grant, Jared Harris, Christian Berkel, Misha Kuznetsov, Guy Williams, Marianna Di Martino, Julian Michael Deuster, Andrea Cagliesi, Riccardo Calvanese, Peter Stark, David Menkin, Pablo Scola, Cesare Taurasi, Riccardo Flammini, Francesco De Vito, Luca Della Valle, Simona Caparrini, David Beckham, Alessandro Ananasso, Joana Metrass, Gabriel Lo Giudice, Elbio Bonsaglio, Michael Peluso, Alan Turkington, Sergio Marini, Gordon Alexander (uncredited), Rubi Ali (uncredited), Lasco Atkins (uncredited), Nic Bernasconi (uncredited), Nicolas Bosc (uncredited), Alexander Bracq (uncredited), Vivien Bridson (uncredited), Max Cavenham (uncredited), Arpit Chaudhary (uncredited), Winston Churchill (archive footage) (uncredited), Bern Collaço (uncredited), Trevor Comber (uncredited), Pamela Betsy Cooper (uncredited), Gioacchino Jim Cuffaro (uncredited), Graham Curry (uncredited), Michael Dickins (uncredited), Gary Douglas (uncredited), Amanda Edwards (uncredited), Guinevere Edwards (uncredited), Dave Evans (uncredited), Dave Goshorn (uncredited), Craig Goult (uncredited), Alexander Hathaway (uncredited), James Henri-Thomas (uncredited), George Hewer (uncredited), John Hiorns (uncredited), Adolf Hitler (archive footage) (uncredited), Philip Howard (uncredited), Sayed Kassem (uncredited), John F. Kennedy (archive footage) (uncredited), Andrea Kerry (uncredited), Jefferson King (uncredited), Hrvoje Klecz (uncredited), Klemens Koehring (voice) (uncredited), Jimena Larraguivel (uncredited), Ross Learoyd (uncredited), Jorge Leon Martinez (uncredited), Mickey Lewis (uncredited), Christopher Marsh (uncredited), Grayson James Matthews (uncredited), Stuart Matthews (uncredited), Lawrence Moran (uncredited), Jonathan Nadav (uncredited), Claudia Newman (uncredited), Hugh O'Brien (uncredited), Lazaros Pasdekis (uncredited), Ed Pearce (uncredited), Gino Picciano (uncredited), Mike Pinfield (uncredited), Antonio Piras (uncredited), James Michael Rankin (uncredited), Anthony Ray (uncredited), Luca Ribezzo (uncredited), David G. Robinson (uncredited), Julio Romeo (uncredited), Daniel Tyler-Smith (uncredited), Danny Vardanian (uncredited), Natasha Ward (uncredited), Brian Wernham (uncredited), Daniel Westwood (uncredited), Anick Wiget (uncredited), Lisa-Marie Wragg (uncredited), Ben Wright (uncredited) and Ekaterina Zalitko (uncredited)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Producers: David Dobkin, Enzo Sisti, Guy Ritchie, John Davis, Lionel Wigram, Mark Mostyn, Max Keene, Peter Eskelsen, Steve Clark-Hall and Steven Mnuchin
Screenplay: Guy Ritchie (screenplay/story), Lionel Wigram (screenplay), David Campbell Wilson (story), Jeff Kleeman (story), Lionel Wigram (story) and Sam Rolfe (based on the television series)
Composer: Daniel Pemberton
Cinematography: John Mathieson, O.A.L. B.S.C. (Director of Photograph)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: English: 7.1 Dolby TrueHD Surround
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Audio Descriptive Service
Italian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: English, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish
Running Time: 116 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Warner Home Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ [2015] has been revamped by director Guy Ritchie, who gives 007 a run for his money with his reboot of the 1960s TV show “The Man From UNCLE,” which as we know was the 1960s spy TV series that no one under 50 will remember and has a very sunny, funny tongue-in-cheek vibe to the film. An unusually restrained Guy Ritchie serves up solid entertainment with a classy touch, with a slight twist on the original TV series. Plus it is a lightweight but stylish high-kitsch fashion icon personified, to give the characters their very own charming and successful presentation.
Henry Cavill is very dapper and dashing as Napoleon Solo, dressed like Thunderball type era of Sean Connery in immaculate suits, and extravagantly polite, even at moments of the most extreme danger. Arnie Hammer is the gruffer styled machismo laconic Napoleon Solo's Russian sidekick, KGB agent, Illya Kuryakin. The two are first seen as fierce antagonists but are soon forced to work together in true harmony.
Its Cold War Europe setting is less about paying homage to its vague influences of Ian Fleming and John le Carré, and more of an excuse to embrace old-school city-hopping larks and sharply-suited 1960s adventure. It’s all pulp and no politics as ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ film prefers to have a sly smile, where the new-school James Bond would grimace and to deliver a hearty backslap where John le Carré would shoot his doomed characters in the back.
Here we have a familiar story of spies, disloyalty, twists, double-crossing and a nuclear plot to destroy the globe, the film hops from Berlin to Rome, taking in other iconic scenic European spots along the way. Henry Cavill’s American spy and Armie Hammer’s Eastern Bloc stooge team up, with Alicia Vikander in tow as a fellow traveller and Jared Harris and Hugh Grant playing backroom puppet-masters. It’s not quite teasing or knowing enough to be a spoof shtick, but it’s not far off. This is a film that is one step from winking at you mid-scene with great joy.
The film feels very British although one main character is American, albeit played by an English actor Hugh Grant, the other Russian, and the beautiful heroine Alicia Vikander is a car mechanic from East Berlin. Her father is a brilliant scientist who knows how to build atom bombs and her uncle Rudi is a die-hard Nazi. The British ambience is reinforced by the presence of Hugh Grant as the spy boss, saying “well done chaps” to Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin on the rare occasions when they follow orders. As the villainess, Elizabeth Debicki looks and behaves like a more sinister version of Lady Penelope in Thunderbirds.
All this charm is a little surprising considering that on paper its trio of leads, Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer and Alicia Vikander, don’t somehow gel together. But as it turns out, the two men have an especially sharp rapport, something Guy Ritchie previously conjured up between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law in his Sherlock Holmes films franchise. You wonder if this is what Guy Ritchie is best at now: period action bromance set in cartoon-like worlds just enough removed from our own so that he doesn’t have to bother with subtlety, meaning the mangling of accents, for instance, doesn’t matter. Guy Ritchie sadly is still not great with women, must be his machismo outlook, but the saving grace is Alicia Vikander who has a great fun presence to bring some light relief. All the characters here are very much better spoken than those in the geezer-gangster films Guy Ritchie used to make at the start of his career. This is thankfully a Vinnie Jones-free zone and there is no hint of mockney here, thank goodness.
As the film enters a slightly hyped-up late phase in the game as the action really takes over. But ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ has enough style and smart persona to make it an amusingly louche summer film, which culminates with a mix of action and wit, suits and cities that feels refreshingly analogue in a digital world. The confidence of the final scene suggests there’s more to come too, which is more than fine by me.
The setting may be the early 1960s but any ideological tension in the Cold War has been strained out. The differences between East and West are more to do with fashion, gadgetry and approaches to courtship than with politics. The tone of the film is relentlessly cheery, touching on the facetious, even though the plot involves deadly weapons that could blow up humanity. Sadly isn't a huge amount of chemistry between Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer as the ideologically opposed spies are forced to work together. The film's trump card is its carefree mixture of zest and stylishness. Despite a lot of critics gave it the thumbs down, I still enjoyed and high camp adventurer romp and as far as I am concerned Guy Ritchie can do no wrong in my eyes. Let’s hope there will be a follow up film in the very near future.
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. MUSIC TRACK LIST
COMPARED TO WHAT (Written by Gene McDaniels) [Performed by Roberta Flack]
BUNTER DRACHEN (Written by Rio Gregory and Suzanne Doucet) [Performed by Suzanne Doucet]
Wenn Ich Ein Junge Wär (Written by Günter Loose and Werner Müller) [Performed by Rita Pavone]
CRY TO ME (Written by Bert Berns) [Performed by Solomon Burke]
FIVE MONTHS, TWO WEEKS, TWO DAYS (Written by Don Donaldson and Debbie Morris) [Performed by Louis Prima]
Viaggio Nella Prateria (Written and Conducted by Stelvio Cipriani)
BANANA FREAK OUT (Written by George Guzman) [Performed by George Guzman]
MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. – Theme (Instrumental) (Written by Jerry Goldsmith) [Performed by Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra]
Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera? (Written by Gaetano Amendola and Roberto Murolo) [Performed by Peppino Gagliardi]
IL COLPO (Written by Ennio Morricone)
Torture In D Minor (Written by Serge Pizzorno) [Performed by Sergio Pizzorno]
JIMMY RENDA-SE (Written by Tom Zé and Valdez) [Performed by Tom Zé]
Il Mio Regno (Written by Luigi Tenco) [Performed by Luigi Tenco]
TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS (Written by Andrew Stroud) [Performed by Nina Simone]
Blu-ray Image Quality – Warner Home Video brings you ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ in a brilliant 1080p encoded image of great contrast and an equally impressive 2.40:1 aspect ratio. ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ was shot digitally on the Arri Alexa XT Plus and was shot via digital equipment, and the director Guy Ritchie wanting in making an obvious attempt here to make the movie look very much like an old spy film from the 1960s. With that in mind, the colours have been ever so slightly pulled back, and there's an effort not to use too many bright or “flashy” colours and viewers are treated to a lot of earth tones: greens, browns, tans, greys, with a splash of orange or red here and there. Details and depth here are pretty good. Black levels are strong and neither noise nor compression problems are an issue. Facial details, in particular, are well-defined throughout the film. Unfortunately, Cinematographer John Mathieson's obsession with lens flares, which to some people might become slightly a distraction in many scenes, but I think it adds to the style. Overall, this is a really stunning looking video transfer, which will be very pleasing to most Blu-ray film aficionados. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Home Video brings you ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ in a totally awesome brilliant sound experience with an amazing 7.1 Dolby TrueHD Surround audio experience that gives you and experience that is truly a heightened audio experience, especially when the films starts with the Titles and the singer Roberta Flack, that really gives all of your speakers a totally amazing good workout. Dialogue levels are perfect; each actor's vocal performances are as clear in two-person scene as they are in action sequences. This is a good thing, given how much of the film is dedicated to banter. Daniel Pemberton's film music score is also a totally awesome showstopper in the way it jumps between genres, evoking jazz, sixties-era tunes, traditional action movie score, choral movements, and one incredible thundering drum sequence. Sound effects themselves are nuanced, from the smallest light bulb to blazing gunshots. Surround sound activity is totally excellent, delivering precise effects placement that creates a 360-degree soundstage. Overall, ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ delivers a totally solid sound mixes, and when this film kicks into gear; it offers some sublime demo material that will impress your guests. Sound effects effortlessly move from one speaker to another with a well-defined crisp sound. The subwoofers are heavy and deft during the action scenes, and the dialogue is precisely prioritized and clear. In addition, Lorne Balfe’s music film soundtrack is really clear and spans across all of your speakers and the audio mix is one to demonstrate via your surround sound system. It’s one of the most immersive and impressive soundtrack ever put together I have heard in a very long time.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Spy Vision: Recreating 60's Cool [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [8:34] With this special feature it takes an in-depth look behind-the-scene look at how the film drew its inspiration from the look and feel of 1960's spy film genre. It is one reason why ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ is so much fun is that it takes place in the ‘60s in Europe, which means lots of amazing fashions, locations and vehicles. This gives us a look at the costumes, the places in Italy where the film was shot, and the cars and technology used. Contributors include: Lionel Wigram [Producer/Screenwriter], Guy Ritchie [Director/Producer/Screenwriter], Armie Hammer [Illya Kuryakin], Elizabeth Debicki [Victoria Vinciguerra], Joanna Johnston [Costume Designer], Hugh Grant [Alexander Waverly], Alicia Vikander [Gaby], Sue Quinn [Supervising Location Manager], Alex King [Action Vehicle Coordinator] and Sylvester Groth [Uncle Rudi].
Special Feature: A Higher Class of Hero [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [7:13] With this feature it takes a look on how the filmmakers tried to make the action sequences in the film look realistic, yet still innovative and original and just in case you wondered how many of these effects and stunts were practical, this special feature provides you with an answer: pretty much all of them. You also get a nice surprise to see they actually drove a vehicle across a lake by hydroplaning on the water’s surface. Contributors include: Lionel Wigram [Producer/Screenwriter], Paul Jennings [2nd Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator], Guy Ritchie [Director/Producer/Screenwriter], Dominic Tuohy [Special Effects Supervisor], Alicia Vikander [Gaby], Armie Hammer [Illya Kuryakin], Henry Cavill [Napoleon Solo], Luca Calvani [Alexander Vinciguerra], Alex King [Action Vehicle Coordinator].
Special Feature: Métisse Motorcycles: Proper – And Very British [2015] 1080p] [1.78:1] [5:00] Here we take a look at the Métisse motorcycle which Armie Hammer's character zoomed around in during an action sequence in the third act of the film. Armie Hammer takes us through a tour of the Métisse Motorcycle factory, which is attached to the owner’s home and is based Carswell near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, England. Armie Hammer seems to have a very big soft spot for these Métisse Motorcycles. Contributors include: Armie Hammer [Illya Kuryakin], Gerry Lisi [Owner of Métisse Motorcycles] and Lee Morrison [Assistant Stunt Cordinator].
Special Feature: The Guys from U.N.C.L.E. [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [4:57] Here we take a look at the two leading actors of the film, Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. We also look into how the action sequences were made, including commentary from all involved with the film. Contributors include: Lionel Wigram [Producer/Screenwriter], Guy Ritchie [Director/Producer/Screenwriter], Henry Cavill [Napoleon Solo], Jared Harris [Adrian Sanders], Alicia Vikander [Gaby], Armie Hammer [Illya Kuryakin], Luca Calvani [Alexander Vinciguerra], Dominic Tuohy [Special Effects Supervisor] and Paul Jennings [2nd Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator].
Special Feature: A Man of Extraordinary Talents [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:16] This very brief feature that is devoted to the Director Guy Ritchie, with comments from other members of the cast and crew, where we learn what the everyone thought of Guy Ritchie as a person and director, and I wish this had been a little more extensive, but we did learn that certain people taught Guy Ritchie to play the guitar and learn to play chess. Contributors include: Henry Cavill [Napoleon Solo], ], Armie Hammer [Illya Kuryakin], Alicia Vikander [Gaby], Steven Clark-Hall [Producer], Luca Calvani [Alexander Vinciguerra], Hugh Grant [Alexander Waverly], Elizabeth Debicki [Victoria Vinciguerra] and Lionel Wigram [Producer/Screenwriter].
Special Feature: U.N.C.L.E. On-Set Spy [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:16] This bonus is divided into four short behind-the-scenes look at the shooting of the film. They included the following segments: Don't Swim Elegantly; You Want to Wrestle?; Heli Restored and A Family Thing. Contributors include: Lionel Wigram [Producer/Screenwriter], Robert Hields [Helicopter Owner/Pilot] and Rory Gibb [Trainee Assistant Director]. One fascinating fact we find out about Robert Hields, is that he is known in Yorkshire as “The Man With The Golden Touch,” because the Hiller UH12 helicopter is better known as the aircraft Pussy Galore, played by Honor Blackman, flew in the 1964 James Bond classic film ‘Goldfinger’ and we are told that Honor Blackman wouldn’t actually go in it, so while it looks like Pussy Galore it is actually not Honor Blackman at the controls – it’s a bloke in a wig.’ As usual you can either watch each item separately or Play All.
Finally, I grew up with the amazing “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” TV series and it was one of my all-time favourite TV series when I was young, so my expectations were high and I thought I would be disappointed. On the contrary I was pleasantly surprised and certainly enjoyed the show, and I would say it's more for adults than for young children, but even youngsters should find it very entertaining. The acting form the two main actors were good and the characters were well played although certainly not along the same lines as the TV original series. ‘THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.’ [2015] resurrects a glossy, Action-Packed 1960s pastiche homage to the original TV series. If you like Guy Ritchie’s other films like me, then you will almost certainly like this film. It's slick and stylish, and Henry Cavill is perfectly cast in the lead role. What impressed me the most about the film was how well they managed to capture the time period really well, especially for people who were not around in that period of time to know what it was like in the 1960s. The clothes, cars, architecture, and even the helicopters were all perfect, so it really felt like you were watching something that was filmed in the 1960s. This is a brilliant action packed film; from start to finish that has great potential, with hopefully a follow up from director Guy Ritchie in the very near future. Forget James Bond, now there are two new spies in town who are out to save the world! Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
