Birds of Prey
One of the last major studio apartment movies to hit cinemas before the COVID-19 pandemic went global wasBirds of Prey , the latest instalment in theDC Extended Universe , focusing on Harley Quinn commit together a crack squad of badass ladies for a diamond heist . The picture show was met with mixed reviews upon release . The reception was better thanSuicide Squad , but nowhere near as positive asWonder Woman .
The real test ofBirds of Prey ’s succeeder is how it will hold up in the years to fare . Some aspects of the movie will age well , while others will age poorly .
Age Well: The Performances
Although there are a number of problems with theBirds of Preyscript , the pic is mostly saved bycommitted functioning from its immensely gifted cast . Margot Robbie stay on as perfectly suited to the theatrical role of Harley Quinn as ever , while Ewan McGregor relishes the chance to play an unabashedly sadistic criminal offense honcho in Black Mask .
Plus , the Birds of Prey themselves are played brilliantly by Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Jurnee Smollett - Bell , and Rosie Perez that fans are calling for standalone adventure for each of them .
Age Poorly: It Doesn’t Really Know What It Is
The fact that Warner Bros. retitled the movie toHarley Quinn : raspberry of Preyin the middle of its theatrical exit confirmed that even the studio apartment recognise one of the movie ’s great flaws : it does n’t be intimate what it wants to be .
It ’s supposed to be an ensemble team - up introduce the Birds of Prey , but it ’s fix up as a Harley Quinn solo movie in which she breaks the fourth wall and controls the plot of land .
Age Well: It’s A Great Breakup Movie
In a lot of dissolution motion picture , the theatrical role finally decide to get back together when they ’ve work on themselves , dispatch their character reference arcs with a really high-risk decision . As a resolution , there are n’t a raft of breakup movies that can actually help people get over a detachment .
Amidst all the chaos of the plot , Birds of Preyis really a breakup movie , and a majuscule one at that . Afterbreaking up with the Joker , Harley does n’t seek a new boyfriend . or else , she die on a journey of self - love — something we can all larn from .
Age Poorly: Nonlinear Storytelling For The Sake Of It
Nonlinear storytelling only works if it has a determination . InReservoir Dogs , it command the data that the audience has . InGoodfellas , the all - over - the - place editing captures the intensity of mob life . But inBirds of Prey , a movie whose razor - fragile plot involves a kid pooping out the MacGuffin , there ’s no reason to say the chronicle out of ordering .
It takes some of the impact out of each set small-arm . For example , Harley give way into the constabulary station , then explains to the audience why she ’s doing it . The audience have the payoff before the frame-up .
Age Well: The Soundtrack
The soundtrack ofBirds of Preyis awing enough to match other memorable comic book movie soundtracks , likeGuardians of the GalaxyandDeadpool . The headlining singles , like Doja Cat ’s “ Boss B**ch ” and Megan Thee Stallion and Normani ’s “ Diamonds , ” perfectly catch the spirit and attitude of Harley Quinn .
Daniel Pemberton ’s original score complements a lot of the flick ’s key instant and Jurnee Smollett - Bell ’s masking of James Brown ’s “ It ’s a Man ’s Man ’s Man ’s globe ” is spectacular .
Age Poorly: Passive Protagonist
Harley Quinn is a passive agonist inBirds of Prey . Her only want throughout the first act is to corrode a breakfast sandwich . Passive friend are n’t necessarily a bad thing . While action - pack comic book of account blockbusters benefit more from active protagonists , some of the greatest picture show ever made ( Apocalypse Now , The Big Lebowski , etc . ) have had peaceful protagonist .
But it does n’t wreak inBirds of Preybecause Harley is the one who has to startle the titular squad and she ca n’t do that if she or the interview do n’t really care about anything that ’s materialize .
Age Well: Colorful Visual Style
Every frame ofBirds of Preyis bursting with color , harken back to the vibrant pallette ofAquaman . After the DCEU got off to a rocky start with the dim , dull look ofMan of SteelandBatman v Superman , it ’s decent to see these motion-picture show finally adopting an eye - popping visual style .
From the opening Ace Chemicals explosion to the full-grown conclusion in the abandon amusement park , every exercise set spell inBirds of Preyis a dazzling fiesta for the eyes .
Age Poorly: Forgettable Plot
Birds of Preyrevolves around a generic diamond armed robbery . The report number to the Bertinelli crime family ’s fortune are embedded in the ball field ’s atomic code , which does n’t make the tiniest bit of sense .
After Cassandra Cain eats the rhomb , the characters expend the residual of the film waiting for her to go past it , which make for a pretty forgettable plot .
Age Well: Cathy Yan’s Energetic Direction
Movies that do n’t stand the test of fourth dimension tend to be deadening . The plot is dull , the fibre are uninteresting , and even the filmmakers seem to be macabre of the movie before its conclusion credit roll .
WhileBirds of Prey ’s screenplay has a great deal of job , Cathy Yan ’s brisk direction keeps the movie clipping along at a brisk pace , focus on the antics of its irregular antihero . One thing is for sure : boring , it ai n’t .
Age Poorly: Quasi-Deadpool Tone
Instead of wee-wee a Harley Quinn movie , the makers ofBirds of Preyseem to have been more concerned in making aDeadpoolmovie with Harley Quinn taking the reins . Like ‘ Pool , Harley talks to the audience of her film and shuffles around the story structure whenever the modality strikes .
If anyone in the DC universe was going to be its answer to Deadpool ( barring Red Tool , Death Masque , and Un - Deathstroke , DC ’s trio of Deadpool parodies ) , it would be Harley . But swear intemperately onDeadpool ’s panache prevented Harley from develop an on - screenland identity of her own .
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