*Didn’t know war could be so much fun, especially since I am not a fan of war films. But “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is a blast.
Guy Ritchie’s band of shady superheroes succeeded in turning the tide of World War II. Based on true events, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” inspired Ian Fleming to create the fictional spy James Bond, and his colorful assortment of characters.
“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” unfolds on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. The 1941 mission was to steal Italian and German ships from the harbor in a daring raid.
In addition to providing nail-biting intrigue and drama, the action-comedy provides a form of therapy.
With every Nazi killed, images of genocidal leaders, racists, lynch mobs, colonists, slave masters, present-day land invaders, and the like could be substituted for the numerous Nazis killed.
Although my reaction to the carnage onscreen was one of joy, every audience member will no doubt react differently. Cary Elwes (Brigadier Gubbins ‘M’) says he takes his role personally. His grandfather was a colonel in 1943. Gubbins sent him to Albania to train to fight Nazis.
There is never a dull moment in the movie. In the beginning, audiences meet Heron (Babs Olusanmokun) and Marjorie (Eiza González) on a train in which most of the passengers are Nazis.
In that nail-biting scene, the duo must steal critical information about mission targets. That scenario establishes them as smart, fun, and always thinking fast on their feet.
As the mission progresses the commandos, led by Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill), enlist the aid of Kambili Kalu (Danny Sapani), a West African prince, a graduate of the elite English private school Eton, man about town, arms dealer, and fixer. He is a major on the island.
Without his help, the mission would have failed. In the enemy camp on the island, Heinrich Luhr (Til Schweiger), is the fiercely loyal and frightening Nazi leader.
Smart, well-written, and shot, with stellar performances, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is the best film I’ve seen this year. Freddie Fox, Victor Oshin, Rory Kinnear also star.
Veteran, syndicated journalist Marie Moore reports on entertainment, mainstream media, and the Black diaspora. Follow on Facebook.com/TheFilmStrip; X: @thefilmstrip; Instagram: @thefilmstriptm
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