We’ve all heard the comparisons to 1970s political thrillers, and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” does bear numerous similarities to those classic conspiracy films of that era. But with colorful super-heroes, state of the art special effects, and amazing set pieces, CA:TWS is a conspiracy thriller for the modern age. It knows exactly what it wants to do, and doesn’t waste a single scene doing it. Filled with great performances and taut storytelling, this is a film I can’t recommend highly enough.
The story takes place almost entirely in and around Washington DC, which is fitting for the tale being told, where those we want so badly to trust never quite live up to what we want them to be. When we first meet Steve Rogers, he’s dealing with this conundrum in spades, unsure anymore just who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are in this new modern world in which he finds himself. He’s working for Nick Fury and SHIELD, but has his doubts about his ultra-secretive boss. These doubts prove to be well-placed when Cap’s latest mission turns out to be both less and more than what he’s told. This leads to our first big battle scene, where Cap faces a not-quite-from-the-comics version of Batroc the Leaper. It’s a great opening, nonetheless, and hints at the “who can I trust” theme that haunts Rogers through the whole movie.
Without giving much else away, let’s just say that the action scenes get more and more intense as the movie goes on. The Russo Brothers employ the occasionally annoying “shaky cam” technique, at times filming fight scenes like Paul Greengrass without his Ritalin. But at least most of the battles take place in clear daylight, so we still get a good sense of what’s going on, and it’s fast and brutal. An early car chase through DC is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time, where we learn that, yeah, those SHIELD designers aren’t kidding around when they build their vehicles. Bullet-proof, indeed!
The cast does a great job of buying into the seriousness of the proceedings, especially old pro Robert Redford, who lends unprecedented star power to the Marvel Universe with his performance as the shady Alexander Pierce, an old compatriot of Nick Fury who has very clear ideas of how the world needs to be shaped. These views quickly come in conflict with Captain America’s steadfast, WWII-learned stance of right and wrong, and things get very exciting very quickly from there.
As for the titular villain: The Winter Soldier is an awesome cinematic creation. In just a few scenes (and even fewer spoken lines), he is a truly menacing presence, and we fear for our heroes every time the Soldier is on screen. His intense singularity of purpose and efficiency at carrying out his mission make him a Terminator-like bad guy, with a much more tragic backstory. Sebastian Stan plays him just right in a role that could’ve been screwed up in so many ways. His scene in bad-guy HQ is particularly heartbreaking, as he struggles to recall his past while those around him do all they can to keep him in the dark.
Obviously, though, this is Chris Evans’ movie. If we don’t believe he is the Star-Spangled Avenger, we’ll have no investment in these far-fetched adventures. Is he “the perfect Captain America”? Does he completely embody the stoic leader who has stood up to Thanos, and led his much more powerful Avengers teammates through the gates of hell? Not quite… but he’s getting there. Evans’ assured performance gives the film its weight; we feel his nagging doubts about Fury, about SHIELD, and even about the country whose flag he wears. He’s not quite Robert Downey Jr., but it’s getting more difficult to imagine anyone else assuming this role. His scenes with Stan are among the movie’s highlights.
Scarlett Johansson has more to do here, and she does a nice job as the spy whose moral compass doesn’t quite point due north 24/7 like Rogers’ does. She’s fine doing the dirty work when her orders call for it, but she eventually realizes that maybe Steve’s right, maybe standing behind something, or someone, is the right way to go. Anthony Mackie has great chemistry with Evans, and his Falcon is a welcome addition to the cast. Unlike some buddy movies, we can see why Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers are friends. And his flying scenes are amazing.
Complaints? Well, like most of these movies, the bad guys’ Master Plan is a bit convoluted and out-there. I found myself asking, “OK, if they succeed… then what???” But we know enough to keep us interested, and I kind of like that only so much is revealed. There are still a lot of questions left unanswered at movie’s end, leaving me wanting much more when the credits rolled.
And we do get a bit more, with two after-credits scenes that serve to whet the appetite for AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON and add a nice bookend to the Winter Soldier’s story. Stay for both. Most importantly, though, go see this movie! It’s surely Marvel’s best solo film since the first Iron Man.