“CINEMA SATURDAYS”
Welcome to the Floor Show
DC and Warner Bros.’ latest film Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) was a refreshing new comic book film that was somewhat of a departure from the usual dark and dreary hero flicks they’ve been famed for producing. Many criticisms can be leveled against the filmmakers for their portrayal of the Birds of Prey team, but it’s preferable to stay on the positive side of things. Firstly, the film does a very sound job of introducing the team to mainstream audiences and its localized focus was masterfully handled.
DC and Warner Bros.’ latest film Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) was a refreshing new comic book film.
The film played to its strengths and with Margot Robbie serving as the mouthpiece and narrator for much of the film, the focus placed on the rest of the cast was quite well done. The film isn’t a masterpiece of artistic wonderment, but few superhero movies are ever that. The film balances humor with darkness in a refreshing way, whether it’s Harley’s acquisition of Bruce the Hyena, or Huntress killing people but continually being cutoff before she can tell the audience who she is in the film.
The portrayal of Black Mask by Ewan McGregor will be a topic of conversation amongst fans. He played a fantastically unhinged, maniacal and yet intelligent baddie. With every moment he was on the screen he has the audience desperate to see what lunacy he was going to show next. At times he was menacing and unhinged and others he was charming, even almost seductive. McGregor was a force in this film, and he seemed to be relishing the opportunity to play the villain. This role is a definite departure from more traditional heroic roles that he’s played in the past and he made the transition feel effortless. Chris Messina’s portrayal of the face-peeling, tally-mark counting madman Victor Zsasz was also a welcome addition. His work onscreen with the Robbie, and Jurnee Smollet-Bell was uncomfortable to watch and that makes it very rewarding.
Smollet-Bell was a great Black Canary and a standalone film with her could be in order with all hope. Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya couldn’t have been casted better as she just oozed power in every scene she was in Rosie’s maverick attitude and her headlong rush through the story toward danger was something special and really could be compared to Danny Glover and Mel Gibson’s performances in the Lethal Weapon films. She dripped an aura of ‘badass cop’ and was heavily equipped with a plethora of cop jokes and references. Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain was incredibly likeable as a character and she showcases well as the young pickpocket trying to run with the big dogs. Finally, Mary Elizabeth Winstead was an excellent choice for Huntress and she gave the film that Kill Bill vibe that added a grit to an otherwise lighthearted film for the most part.
All in all, it can be said that DC and Warner Bros. are on the right track with this film. This movie might not steal Oscars or make viewers cry and hug the kids, but it’s definitely a good time. It’s certainly safe to say that with films like Shazam!, Deadpool and Deadpool 2 being successful as superhero films that don’t take themselves too seriously, the studios may definitely see continued success with films that continue the trend when done well.
