The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The cool soundtrack saves an otherwise average spy story set in the days of The Berlin Wall. Pemberton is Morricone’s reincarnation. Ritchie has an incredible feel for music, but the catchy sixties hits were completely overshadowed by excellent instrumental music oscillating between western, spy genre and some weird ethno mix. The acting duo (Cavill, Hammer), trio (Alicia), quartet (Grant) is welcome, I wouldn’t turn down another adventure with them, with a bit more complex story of course. Some isolated scenes are actually genius (the snack in the car), but in general I expected just a little bit more. A fine chill. Noting more, nothing less. Damn. I left my jacket in the other room. (2015-08-20)

Technically, of course, appropriately polished with an entertaining central duo, but otherwise this popcorn flick, like most Ritchie's films, has nothing extra. Surprisingly, the female cast is rubbish both in looks (!) and acting. The retro style may have worked brilliantly in X Men First Class, but here it doesn’t fall on fertile ground with the same elegance and wit. (2015-08-23)

A movie that is pleasant to watch, but you don’t care what’s going on in it. Attractive and stylishly dressed actors who have nothing to do and a likeable retro audiovisual aspect. There’s always something going on, but the runtime feels longer than it actually is. The catchphrases and building of the dynamics of most scenes need more work on the screenwriters’ part. The comic book-like beginning of the final action scene is fantastically bolstered by the music used. A strong three stars. (2015-08-11)

I rooted for this film long before the private screening, cheered it for the stylish retro opening and was sympathising with Ritchie's visual imagery and breezy detachment even half an hour or so before the final credits rolled. But what up until then was a harmless play with various genre elements, where the diverse nature of the plot was still held together by the stylish form, the measured performances and the crushing pace, unfortunately transformed into a stale pictorial feast, which didn’t lack humour and plot drive, but all those disparate ingredients were now creaking and forming a standard hyper-stylish spy mess that doesn't offend and entertains at first, but in retrospect is dominated by a chaos with only a dim glimmer of genuinely funny lines or novel story motifs. 70% (2015-11-20)

A stylish retro spy spectacle that thankfully doesn't parody the genre. But it takes it in stride and it's good at it. The central trio is very likable (Armie Hammer fits the role of the Soviet fighter perfectly and the cute Alicia Vikander is not just cute and certainly not just some cheap ornament) and her constant jibing is pleasant... And Hugh Grant proves once again that aging doesn't rob a person of a shred of charm, id you don’t let it. Guy Ritchie's direction has swing and lots of ideas, offers a number of rewarding scenes full of humor (including the black one, see the chair) and suspense, and I must especially highlight the amazing soundtrack. The instrumental one by Daniel Pemberton, which therefore pays tribute to John Barry rather than Ennio Morriccone, and the well chosen songs. I'm very satisfied. (2015-08-12)