OPERATION FORTUNE: RUSE DE GUERRE

UK/US, 2022, 114 minutes, Colour.

Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Hugh Grant, Josh Hartnett, Cay Elwes, Eddie Marsan, Max Beasley, Peter Ferdinando, Bugzy Malone.

Directed by Guy Ritchie.

The Fortune of the title is Orson Fortune, the espionage agent the British government goes to whenever there is a top job, undercover, no holds barred, deceptions in war – ruse de guerre. He is played by Jason Statham, who has worked with director Guy Ritchie for over 20 years, always the tough guy, never smiling but with a wry sense of humour, more ironic than funny, just some minor variations on the same performance. And audiences have liked him – and he won’t lose any fans because of this film.

Guy Ritchie has directed quite a variety of films over the decades, Disney with Aladdin, two Sherlock Holmes stories with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, and plenty of action and gangster films, especially, more recently, The Gentleman. With this film, he combines quite a lot of action, with some spry dialogue, some intricate plot developments, which keeps the attention and carries the audience along in a rollicking kind of way.

The British government is represented by Cary Elwes, a solid British character after his years in America, the head of secret operations, called in by the head of Department, Eddie Marsan. Something very secret, something very valuable, is on the illicit market, a number of international bidders, and a wealthy go-between. Hugh Grant made quite an impression in The Gentleman, playing against his generally accepted type, the uppercrust Englishman. Here he has an even better opportunity to go against image he gives a very entertaining performance as a genial crook, wealthy with his yacht in Cannes, and Grant using a Michael Caine accent to great effect. He is also obsessed with an action film star, Danny Francesco, played very effectively, often dumb, often shrewd when it comes to his furthering his career, by Josh Hartnett.

In the meantime, Orson Fortune is given his backup, Sarah from the US, an absolute genius with high-tech, played by Aubrey Plaza (who has been up and coming for several years in a variety of roles, always aggressive, frequently abrasive, White Lotus 2) and a rather quieter, behind-the-scenes shooter, rapper, Bugzy Malone (no rapping here, rather surveillance advice and some accurate shooting).

And, scenic treats for the audience, sober London, action at Madrid airport, visit to Los Angeles and Hollywood set, the yacht at Cannes, a lot of the action and climaxes taking place in Turkey, and a visit to Doha.

The screenplay keeps up the action throughout, never a doubt that Orson Fortune will win any fight that he is in – and that’s quite a few. But, undercover spies and agents are not like they used to be in the films of the past. We are in a high-tech world, hacking into every computer system possible, always surveillance and visual coverage of every situation, and, each character with an earpiece, not only able to communicate but also to warn about any attackers try to creep up secretly…

So, serious stuff with Jason Statham. Intellectual stuff plus quite a lot of glamour with Aubrey Plaza. A whole lot of international villains, many from Ukraine (pre-war), and some Americans allegedly involved in a charity for orphans, and Hugh Grant with his obsession for the action hero, joining in the finale as if he were performing in an action film – and he is.

Not an arthouse show – but enjoyable entertainment.

1. Popular entertainment? Action show? Ironic comedy? The work of Guy Ritchie? His working with Jason Statham? With Hugh Grant? The combination working well?
2. Audiences enjoying espionage, undercover agents, international plots, villains, financial deals, betrayals?
3. The credibility of the plot, heightened characters and details, the deal for The Handle, the secrecy, the dealers, the customers, the British government? The spies going into action, detection, surveillance, fights, plans and disguises, over the top?
4. Audiences enjoying the locations, London, the British government, the Madrid airport and the action, Los Angeles, the film set, the yacht, Cannes, the extensive sequences in Turkey, beauty, local colour, the finale in Doha? The musical score?
5. The introduction in tone, the heavy footsteps, Nathan in the corridors of power, the discussions with Norman, the situation, the British government, separate entities not communicating, the government in the situation, trying to find out what was being sold, Nathan and his reputation for controlling operations, the decision to hire Orson, revelations about Mike and his alternate squad, changes in loyalty?
6. The operation at Madrid airport, surveillance, the addition of Sara and JJ to Orson’s team, Orson, the discussions with Nathan, issues of holidays, money, expenses, wine…? His agreeing to lead the operation, the tactics at Madrid airport, surveillance, communications with the group, the carrier, his heart turn, Mike and his agents and the taking of The Handle?
7. Jason Statham as Orson, variations on the same performance, his screen presence, serious, wry humour, action, the many fights? The introduction of Sara, American background, strong personality, aggressive and abrasive, her technical skills, with computers, hacking, connecting, surveillance, communicating information? JJ, past member of the team, skill with guns? At Madrid airport? Orson liking being well paid, the high life, private jets…?
8. Gregory Simmonds, Hugh Grant’s entertaining performance? Accent? Criminal? Movie devotee, Danny Francesco, obsession with him? The key to the plan? The group going to Los Angeles, the posters for Danny Francesco, the film set, Danny, performance, stand ins, stunts, his prima donna behaviour? The group watching him, approaching him, wanting to use him as bait, the discussions, persuasion, that he should act as himself, and the group going to the yacht?
9. The scenes on the yacht, Gregory, delighted to have Danny on board, the conversations, Gregory’s enthusiasms? The function on the yacht, raising money for orphans? The two international dealers – and the later being revealed as the buyers? Other representatives, Ukrainians? Yet everybody wanting to have a selfie with Danny? Movie awe? Danny, nervous at first, getting into the swing of things, his performance as himself? Orson posing as the agent? Sarah posing as the girlfriend? Her glamour, dresses, manner? Yet the work behind-the-scenes, checking the computers, clashes with Gregory’s men, Orson fighting with the Asian man and pushing him overboard? The success of ingratiating themselves with Gregory?
10. The invitation to Danny and his girlfriend to spend the weekend in Turkey, the team going to Turkey, Gregory and the setting up of the meetings, the British lawyer and his presence, Ukrainians? Meetings and deals?
11. The action in Turkey, the surveillance, Sarah and her access, even to changing Orson’s voice to that of the lawyer? The meetings, the signing of the contract, the money going through, then its immediate disappearance? Upsets, the lawyer in the street, his death falling over the tower? Orson and the many fights? The timing, Gregory and his associates suspicious, the timing for the escape – and the background of Gregory and his infatuation with Danny, buying the jewellery on the yacht, the money, and giving him his favourite car, driving with him? The car and the escape? Car pursuits, dangers? JJ and his surveillance advice, accuracy in shooting?
12. The nature of The Handle, IT, causing banking chaos throughout the world, the two planning to buy? Orson overcoming them? The shootouts and the body count?
13. The plan for Gregory, he is enjoying participating in the plot, as if he is acting in the film?
14. The finale, mission accomplished, the dealings with Nathan throughout and his supervision? The confrontation with Mike in the finale?
15. Gregory and Danny, in Hollywood, the infatuation, working in the movies?