The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

I was pleasantly surprised by The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Guy Ritchie crafts an intriguing story about Winston Churchill’s team of highly skilled misfit soldiers recruited for the dirtiest missions against the Germans. This film combines historical drama with Ritchie's signature style, resulting in an engaging and action-packed experience. Henry Cavill stands out as the deranged leader of this unorthodox team, delivering a performance that balances madness with a fierce sense of duty. His character's unpredictable nature keeps the audience on edge. Cavill stands out as the deranged leader of this unorthodox team, delivering a performance that balances madness with a fierce sense of duty. His character's unpredictable nature keeps the audience on edge. Simultaneously, the subplot involving two Allied spies embedded within the German ranks adds an exciting layer of espionage. Babs Olusanmokun and Eiza González deliver fantastic performances, navigating the perilous environment with a blend of cunning and bravery. However, not all elements of the film work seamlessly. The scenes featuring Winston Churchill are notably weaker, often disrupting the narrative flow and diminishing the film’s intensity. These moments feel out of place, detracting from the otherwise tight and focused storytelling. On the technical front, the film excels with masterful cinematography and outstanding sound design. The visual style captures the gritty and chaotic nature of war while maintaining clarity during intense action sequences. The sound design immerses the audience in the film’s world, from the clamor of battle to the subtle tension of stealth operations. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a compelling addition to the war film genre, distinguished by its strong performances, engaging dual storylines, and technical prowess. While some scenes fall short, particularly those involving Winston Churchill, the film’s overall impact remains powerful. Guy Ritchie’s unique touch brings a fresh perspective to a historical narrative, making this film a must-watch for fans of action, history, and espionage.

**_Snazzy WW2 flick about a brazen raid off the coast of West Africa_** Churchill refuses to surrender to Germany and so backs the Special Operations Executive (SOE), which was the precursor to what is today known as black ops. The unorthodox team carry out Operation Postmaster in early 1942, a daring attack on an island near Cameroon to disrupt the Nazis' U-boat resupply operation. Helmed by Guy Ritchie, "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" (2024) is similar in plot to 1968’s “Attack on the Iron Coast,” which covered the St Nazaire Raid on the shore of German-occupied France, a raid that happened to take place 2.5 months after Operation Postmaster. Interestingly, the SOE were considered for heading that raid (in the aftermath of the great success of Operation Postmaster), but the mission was determined to be beyond the capabilities of the small-scale group. While the plot is reminiscent of “Attack on the Iron Coast,” the ‘hip,’ smirky style is along the lines of Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” mixed with bits of “The Dirty Dozen” and “Where Eagles Dare.” If you favor those movies, you’ll probably like this one, but it’s the least of ’em IMHO with the exception of the low-budget “Attack on the Iron Coast,” which was shot in B&W. Don’t get me wrong, this is a top-of-the-line production with a quality cast, including the likes of Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Eiza González and Babs Olusanmokun. It just needed a little more human interest to draw me into the characters and care about the manic events. The dynamic score brings to mind Spaghetti Westerns and includes a piece that rips off “Immigrant Song.” It runs 2 hours, 2 minutes, and was shot at Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, and Antalya on the southwest coast of Turkey. GRADE: B-

**"There's a lot of things you can do with a Nazi, and An Axe"** *~William "B.J." Blazkowicz (Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus)* I said that in reference to one scene in this movie, won't say which though. ~ .^ Guy Richie continues to expand his "Brits in violent situations that go sideways" genre to WW II. His fast dialog is not quite as verbose as in his older work, but it's still excellent. I like all of his movies, but this is up there on his more recent fare. Alan Ritchson playing a kinda dweeby, murderous Scandinavian is a highlight. In the vein of, if far more grounded than, Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. A good vibe to go into 2025.