The First Suicide Squad , directed by David Ayr, was to be a James Gunn-style movie whose Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy had just conquered theaters. But whether it was Ayer’s vision or, as he claims, the imposed vision of Warner Bros. bosses, you can’t make a good Gunn film without James Gunn. So when Marvel fired director of Troma (an independent film studio specializing in low-budget, brutal and kitschy productions) for old, controversial tweets, Warner scooped him up, gave him a pile of comics and a free hand.
Save Harley, kill the rest
The only condition Gunn was given from the studio was to leave Harley Quinn alive. He could safely kill the rest of the group. No wonder – Harley has become an extremely popular DCEU antihero, which means that she is profitable for the studio. She is portrayed by Margot Robbie, perhaps one of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood at the moment, not only is she extremely funny in this role, but she is also an action star. This is the best Harley version so far.
Besides, not only Harley’s outfit looks great in the new Suicide Squad . Idris Elba – playing René DuBois, or Bloodsport – also has a strong role. Here he plays a mercenary who does not want to and cannot get along with his daughter, he wants to spare her the unpleasantness associated with having the criminal’s father, pushing her away from him. Additionally, in the entire dangerous operation organized by Amanda Waller, he will be drawn completely against his will, while the rest of the group without batting an eye take a contract in Corto Maltese, a country remarkably similar to Cuba, in exchange for a shortened sentence.
Elba did great, but in a duet with Daniela Melchior, who plays the role of Ratcatcher 2, his story and creation gained another, quite interesting and well-presented level. Melchior created a heroine who became the heart of a bunch of aggressive and ruthless criminals, especially Bloodsport.
They’re bastards. But they have hearts of gold?
All the scenes in which we get to know the members of the squad are extremely good and can ennoble this crazy, absurd, bloody and funny mix that is The Suicide Squad. James Gunn has a real talent for squeezing even the most hideous heroes as much human as he did in Guardians of the Galaxy , especially the second installment. The world Gunn shows us, like his heroes, is not black and white, and even the cosmic antagonist that the group fights in the final scene is not your typical villain who wants to take over the world because he is angry.
There is also the first film where John Cena truly blends in with his character, rather than just being a wrestler enjoying acting. He just needed the role of a psychopath who was blindly and pathologically fighting for peace. The fact that a series about Peacemaker will be created makes me look forward to the episode production of DC for the first time, because Cena has already proven himself in this role.
And further? What about the rest of the cast? Did Sylvester Stallone as King Shark do great and surprisingly… human? Yes, of course. The big shark in shorts had a story about finding friends, which Gunn managed to finish smoothly. Polka Dot Man, played by full-time supporting actor David Daltsmachian, may at first seem like the perfect object for jokes and a comic relief. But when – along with the other characters – we got to know his story, he suddenly became a completely different, deeper character. Casting, I have nothing to complain about the new Suicide Squad. Every role was hit and miss: even cannon fodder, even Sean Gunn as Weasel.
A strong stomach is a must
How is superhero cinema associated with the viewer after more than a decade of presence in the mainstream? Probably with a festival of similar battle scenes between computer-generated characters breaking the laws of physics. The Suicide Squad doesn’t have this problem. Partly because the whole thing is flashy and colorful to the point of absurdity, but also because of the wonderfully kept balance between CGI and practical effects. The computer’s interference in the action scenes is unnoticeable, and Gunn – as a Troma man – knows well that gore is best presented as practical effects and that nothing can replace a bucket of corn syrup blood and a severed artificial head.
Gunn operates efficiently not only with the effects that the crew of The Boys series would not be ashamed of . All his moves with the camera are well thought out. In Gunn’s case, the moment of breaking through the enemy camp may not only be a scene of an action, but also a beautiful show of deadly rivalry between dangerous mercenaries, although no line of text is included in it. In the same movie, we will also see a touching clip straight from Steven Spielberg’s family films, another reminiscent of a women’s perfume ad and a montage from comedy about student parties, and it will all fit together. The whole thing is complemented by a great soundtrack, which – as befits a movie by James Gunn – is eclectic, well-chosen and immediately catchy.
To the rescue: James Gunn
Without a doubt, The Suicide Squad is the best DCEU movie right now: original, unforced, suitably brutal, well-written and well-played. It is not conservative like the previous ones, it does not look like six other repackaged CGI productions, and the director does not try to imitate someone else, but freely does what he likes, reaching new levels of absurdity, but one that is watched with undisguised pleasure. Maybe now Warner Bros bosses, reading positive reviews and learning from the Zack Snyder Justice League case , will give their directors more leeway.
