*Marvel’s Latest Film, Thunderbolts, Brings Together Unlikely Heroes**
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has always been known for its ability to repurpose even the most obscure superheroes and villains. The latest addition to the franchise, Thunderbolts*, continues this trend, introducing a new team of anti-heroes comprising characters from various films, including Black Widow, Ant-Man, and a Disney+ spin-off.
According to a review by the Financial Times, the film features a diverse cast of characters, including the bumptious Red Guardian from Black Widow, played by David Harbour, and Yelena Belova, Black Widow’s adoptive sister, played by Florence Pugh. The team is led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a CIA boss with a "patrician sneer and a Susan Sontag streak in her hair".
The film’s screenwriter, Eric Pearson, who also wrote Black Widow, teams up with Joanna Calo, whose credits include Hacks, BoJack Horseman, and The Bear. The result is a film that is at the "smarter end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe", with a rare note of downbeat realism that acknowledges real-world physics. Director Jake Schreier’s emphasis on realism is evident in a sequence where masonry falling on New York City looks like it could actually kill people.
One of the standout aspects of Thunderbolts* is the performance of Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. The Financial Times notes that Pugh is "admirably willing to look sweaty and flustered throughout" and is arguably the first actor to make a real flesh-and-blood character out of a sketchy Marvel premise. The film also features a complex plot, with a call to resist cynicism and despair, and a twist that mocks the culture of fan expectation that Marvel feeds on.
The film’s themes and messages are also noteworthy. The Financial Times notes that one evident message is a call to resist cynicism and despair, but that this is overturned in the final twist, which is "outrageous" and "self-reflexive". The film also touches on politics, with the US president becoming an uncontrollable monster in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World.
The Financial Times concludes that Thunderbolts* is a film that comes within an inch of being the "Barbie of the MCU", with a complex plot and themes that will keep viewers engaged. The film is set to hit cinemas on May 1st and is sure to be a hit with fans of the MCU.
As the Financial Times notes, "One always vaguely hopes to glean some political subtext from Marvel films, and Thunderbolts is promising, not least as it makes a point of reminding us that in February’s Captain America: Brave New World, the US president became an uncontrollable monster." With its complex plot, themes, and messages, Thunderbolts is sure to be a thought-provoking addition to the MCU.
The film’s cast, including David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Sebastian Stan, and Lewis Pullman, deliver solid performances, but it is Florence Pugh who steals the show with her portrayal of Yelena Belova. The film’s direction by Jake Schreier and screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo make for a compelling watch.
Overall, Thunderbolts* is a film that is sure to delight fans of the MCU and newcomers alike. With its complex plot, themes, and messages, it is a thought-provoking addition to the franchise. As the Financial Times concludes, "★★★★☆" – a rating that is sure to generate interest and buzz around the film.
The Financial Times provides an in-depth analysis of the film, stating that "the continually bickering line-up includes the bumptious Red Guardian from Black Widow (David Harbour, enthusiastically chewing on one of Hollywood’s better phoney Russian accents); Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who passes through walls and shimmers a bit; a sourly macho failed substitute for Captain America (Wyatt Russell); Sebastian Stan as Bucky, the iron-armed Winter Soldier; and a mystery man named Bob (Lewis Pullman, not so much resembling a young Bill Pullman as, affectingly, a baby Harvey Keitel)."
Thunderbolts* seems set to continue Marvel’s successful streak of blockbuster films, and this reviewer from the Financial Times highly recommends it.
