‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ Review: Henry Cavill Leads a Pack of Inglorious Rogues in Guy Ritchie’s Spirited WWII Coup
16.04.2024 - 15:17
/ variety.com
Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic In “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill authorizes an illicit mission to undermine Hitler’s fleet of German U-boats during World War II. The plan calls for renegades with little respect for the rules, led by a cocky ex-criminal named Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill), who’s released from prison and called into a top-secret briefing.
Oblivious to etiquette, Gus pours himself a tall glass of Scotch, steals an entire box of cigars and struts over to the desk where a priggish-looking officer sits. Gus palms his lighter, making a fool of the uptight chap, who identifies himself as “Fleming, Ian Fleming.” It doesn’t take an intelligence expert to put two and two together: Gus March-Phillips would later serve as a prototype (one of several) for Fleming’s fictional James Bond character.
Since “No Time to Die,” there’s been much talk about who might fill Daniel Craig’s shoes, but less speculation concerning which directors might handle the project. “Ministry” marks Guy Ritchie’s best attempt at one-upping a franchise in need of a reboot, except that here, he looks to history (rather than Fleming’s oeuvre) for inspiration, adapting the eponymous book by Damien Lewis, whose subtitle says it all: “How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops.” The mission, dubbed “Operation Postmaster,” was hatched by a secret service officer the film not-so-subtly dubs “M” (Cary Elwes, looking debonair), who warns Churchill (Rory Kinnear), “If we’re discovered, Parliament will remove you from office.” Churchill gives him the go-ahead anyway, and Gus sets off with three fellow hooligans: explosives expert Freddy Alvarez (Henry
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