Brace yourselves! David Ayer’s Suicide Squad is a big disappointment and far better than you could have hoped at the very same time. And for those fanboys and those who are DC-curious, it’s a far better film than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Deep breaths, you’re alright.
Unlike the Marvel movies which have taken years of planning, Suicide Squad popped up on Warner Bros’ radar erratically. Word exclusively came out from The Hollywood Reporter’s mouth directly telling us that we were going to spectate a movie that was given to an inexperienced action blockbuster director who constructed a script in less than 6 months. And with Dawn of Justice drowning itself in negative reviews, we can be sure they all went into a frenzy.
Now obviously Warner Bros decided to empty their pockets to save this predicted blockbuster. Funding “funnier” reshoots seemed to have been in their best interest, and it does not end there. With the delightful response to the film’s Bohemian Rhapsody trailer, the film was given to the trailer’s studio house to make big edits for a hopefully less Christopher Nolan lookalike. This probably was Warner’s biggest mistake, but rest assured Suicide Squad strains and squeezes itself through in the end.
Enter Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller. Looking to make someone cry and have an inferiority complex? This petrifying motivator proves she is the right woman for the job. She assembles a team which consists of nine villainous heroes to fight evil-er forces in case the superheroes are out grabbing coffee.
From punching mattresses in jail to leading the squad, Will Smith’s Deadshot is one that grows on you. For a stone cold killer, he’s quite heartwarming and unexpectedly finds himself unifying everyone onboard. He and Margot Robbie’s psychiatrist-turned-psychopath Harley Quinn are employed as the new front faces of Squad. With b-list characters searching for fame right behind them and who could’ve only have been noticed if you have had a past (or a present) with comic books, it seemed like a wise decision indeed.
Revisiting both these characters’ pasts was an expected surprise, but a surprise nonetheless. Human emotion finally exists with DC, with Smith’s Deadshot’s fatherly love towards his daughter acting up and Quinn choosing the dark side in the name of love. We get a glimpse at what a smiling Gotham could potentially look like in the films to come. Surprisingly quenching, those two villains proceed to see themselves end up in prison thanks to the Bat who enters this party of a movie.
Oh yes, if you found it intense watching your two favorite heroes battle each other in BvS, this was more than a visual treat, and turned out to be the best ten minutes of the film.
Don’t be confused if you find the movie to have pacing issues, it comes along with the whole package. That and the fact that it feels like two completely different movies running simultaneously, as though it were choosing between two genre types. Whether it’s a serious or waggish film, that’s something you shall never know. You can forget the concept about character building with this one as you will never see it done. Or maybe you will and this movie will join the likes of them. With characters like Killer Croc, Diablo, Captain Boomerang, Enchantress and a few more making their onscreen debut, it is discomforting to witness something like this.
Oscar Winner Jared Leto is a man of many talents, and definitely, has a much darker side to him than we expected. While he may smile and maintain his calm persona (which is almost psychopathic if you have noticed on occasions), he delivers a Joker we have never seen before. Shiny jewellery, fancy gangster accessories, the whole shebang – this mafia clown has it all with a demeaning taste for a high-end lifestyle with his fair lady by his side.
If you know what a horror film feels like, you can expect yourself to feel the same eerie feeling you get while watching him in action. What’s interesting is that the character himself is not the kind to hold on to loose ends, yet Leto’s version finds himself risking his minions’ bones and limbs to get back his wicked beloved.
If you think this is disappointing news about the character? Here’s where I’m afraid to say, you can shed a few more tears because it doesn’t end there.
Ever read an Alex Ross DC graphic novel? This movie is populated with stunning visuals of these characters who have been lifted from the pages of popular books like these! With the story still trying to muddle its way to safety and with some gawdy action sequences, the film runs on the cast’s and imagery’s steam and nothing more. It also seems like Ayer wanted to tell the world he updated his Spotify list. With random ambiguous songs playing in the background, it’s evident they are compensating for a soundtrack that is nothing short of forgettable
Alas, with the clock almost striking twelve, a climax to save everything should’ve been in order. Meh. Needless to say, it was DC’s version of this year’s Ghostbusters, but with their characters just casually waltzing through the whole film.
David Ayer should find himself back to directing movies that aren’t out of his league, especially when there is a lot is riding on it. Sure, it is an infernal mess with a shady script and weak characters, but in the end, you can still stop to appreciate that Suicide Squad tried to be different in more ways than just one. He should watch his back, though, those were big words he threw around about Marvel at two Comic Cons.
Leaving you nodding your head, the non-kid friendly DC adventure is in theatres and is definitely worth your time and money at least once. Here’s to a brighter future for DC with a change in staff at Warner Bros maybe? Salut.
