Displaying items by tag: Jake Lacey

IN THE GREY

UK/US, 2026, 98 minutes, Colour.

Henry Cavill, Jake Gylenhaal, Eliza Gonzalez, Carlos Bardem, Michael Vu, Fisher Stevens, Rosamund Pike, Kojo Attah, Jason Wong.

Directed by Guy Ritchie.

A thriller set in the world of high finance, in the space between the black-and-white of law and disorder, in the grey. And quotations  come to mind, “the love of money is the root of all evil” and, for players like mercenaries, playing “for love of the game”.

25 years of action shows have been written and directed by Guy Ritchie, moving initially from low crime, Lock, Stock, Two Smoking Barrels, through a range of underworlds to the world of Gentlemen criminals. And, now a worldwide, international perspective.

Though Ritchie’s world has been largely a world of men, on both sides of the law. This time, the main player is a woman, Rachel, played with glamour and aplomb by Eliza Gonzalez. And, in the corporate world, she confronts a female executive, played incisively by Rosamund Pike. But, in a man’s world, Rachel still has to be rescued!

The villain is the dictator, Salzar, his Island, his own army, yacht luxuries, his own plane, wheeling and dealing in finance with his own crooked lawyer, his murderous henchmen. But, Rachel also has her team, two buddy mercenaries she has rescued from prison and who are loyal to her, played by Henry Cavill and Jake Gylenhaal, very cool in crises, but always smart and coming to the rescue. And, a retinue team of experts in surveillance and logistics.

And, all this is necessary, because Rachel will confront the dictator, continually successfully, using the power of law. But, he will capture her and she will need to be rescued – the first part of the film elaborates setting up the plan if she needs an escape route; the second part of the film going into the actual detail of the escape.

Made for entertainment, dipping into the world beyond most people’s imagination of international finance and doubledealing, but skills in confrontations, and always at the ready, and weapons galore, an action show.

1. The root of all evil, a love of money; love of the game?
2. Guy Ritchie, his reputation, crime thrillers, action? Now international finance?
3. The credibility of the plot, real aspects, heightened aspects? Intrigue, action?
4. The situation, world finance in the 21^st-century, banks, finance companies, dictators? Ruthlessness? Use of the law, private armies, the world of luxury?
5. The role of men and women, Rachel as the lead, strong character, ingenious, planning, in action, confrontations? But still needing to be rescued! The financial world, New York, Bobby, her power, manipulation, confrontations?
6. Salazar, his being threatened, his henchmen, the murders? The repercussions for the finance company?
7. Rachel, her confrontation with Bobby, the issue of the deal, the fee, her hold over Bobby? The final confrontation, the phone ringing?
8. Horowitz, and manner, regularly visiting him, the office, interactions, Bronco present, fiddling with the statue, the microphone? Verbal gameplaying?
9. Bronco, Sid, in prison, the release, Rachel freeing them, mercenaries, their skills, her dependence on them, their dependence on her, the plans, execution, the range of staff, surveillance, Logistics?
10. The plan, Rachel and Salazar, the continual encounters, Salazar being outmanoeuvred, his yacht and luxuries, finally agreeing?
11. Rachel in the desert, the camp, the attack and killings, imprisonment, her watch, summoning the mercenaries?
12. In prison, the plans, the first part of the film and rehearsal, the attention to minute details, vehicles, across the valley, the boat? The second half of the film, everything being fulfilled?
13. Rachel, the escape, action, the helicopter pursuing, shot down, Baker and the explosion, the escape to the boat?
14. Rachel, success, Bobby defeated, her boss exposed? Ready for the next action?

THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL

US, 2023, 108 minutes, Colour.

Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Clarke, Jake Lacey, Monica Raymund, Lewis Pullman, Jay Duplass, Tom Riley, Lance Reddick, François Baptiste, Gabe Kessler.

Directed by William Friedkin.

In 1954, audiences worldwide were very impressed by Edward Dmytryk’s film adaptation of Herman Wouk’s celebrated novel, The Caine Mutiny. With a very strong cast including José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, the attention was on Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg, not the usual kind of character that he played. He was the captain of the ship, his subordinates accused of mutiny against him, the revelation of his character, his fixations, his nervousness…

In 1988, Robert Altman made a television version of the play based on the novel, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

2023 saw a new version of the play, filmed for television, and, in fact, the last film by celebrated director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, Oscar for The French Connection). He directed the film in his late 70s.

Time and location for this story has been updated to the 2020s, specific dates, a situation of mines in the Persian Gulf. And there is all the contemporary technology to draw on. And, another change, the prosecutor has been changed from male to female, now played by Monica Raymund.

There is a very interesting male cast, Jason Clarke at his best as the defender, Jake Lacey in a much more serious role than usual as the officer accused of mutiny, Lewis Pullman as the sinister presence.

The film is dedicated to veteran actor, Lance Reddick, who appears as the presiding judge, a strong role, his last film role.

Where this version differs is that Captain Queeg is not presented initially so strongly neurotic as in the other versions. Here he is played by Kiefer Sutherland, defending himself, speaking forthrightly, the touch of the trembling hands. However, he is later called as a witness for the defence, the defence badgering him, and all his neuroses revealed – especially in the context of the testimony of eccentric behaviour explained by the main witnesses for the defence.

While Captain Queeg is condemned, the defence lawyer gives a speech honouring his service to the country over so many decades, the lawyer drinking, going to a celebratory party, and denouncing the sailor, the novelist, who, insinuating, brought on the fall of Queeg. And the film stops.

It is over to the audience, to relive their experience of the trial, the various testimonies, contradictions, denials, personal motivations, integrity… and make their own assessments and judgments.

1. The long popularity of the novel and the film? The stage play the court-martial, Robert Altman’s version? William Friedkin’s version? The updating to the 2020s and contemporary technology?
2. The film based on a play, the emphasis on dialogue, interactions? The audience imagining the episodes talked about? The end, leaving the courtroom, in the street? At the party? The musical score?
3. The episode, the relieving of Captain Queeg of his office, the situation with the mines, Maryk taking responsibility? The episode seen as mutiny?
4. The introduction to Maryk, age and experience, discussions with Barney Greenwald, his appointment a few days before, accepting him as defence?
5. The proceedings of the court, the presiding judge, his focus of attention, decisions about objections, his interrogating the witnesses, the decision about reprimanding Greenwald or not? The other members of the bench attentive?
6. Greenwald, his background, his tactics, his interviewing the range of witnesses, turning Queeg into the equivalent of the accused, little interrogation of him, awaiting his return? The eliciting of information, description of the episodes about Queeg? The cumulative effect?
7. Challee, the prosecutor, a woman in this version, the attitudes, his determination, the questioning of witnesses, the defensive Queeg, her objections, not always sustained? The cumulative effect, her final speech and criticisms of Greenwald?
8. Queeg, his presence, the impact, issues of his mental stability, his answers to questions, his explanation of the situation? Maryk listening to him, looking at him?
9. Keith, his friendship with Maryk, his explanation of the range of stories about Queeg? Greenwald drawing him out? The contrast with Keefer, the novelist, advising Maryk, friendship with Maryk, the decision to go to the higher authorities, backing out?
10. The young sailor, 20 years old, awkward, not familiar with court proceedings, his testimony?
11. The witnesses for mental health, the psychologist, the defensive Queeg and his abilities? The intricacies of the cross examination? The doctor, limited experience in his work, of the Navy, his defensiveness?
12. Maryk and his testimony, the prosecutor hostile, indicating his limitations of education and comprehension? Greenwald, drawing out the stories, Queeg’s strange behaviour, the stories, the key, the searching of the personnel naked, his testing out all the keys, the bucket of keys? The story of the banning of films? The banning of water because of one man having a shower? The persecution of the men? Maryk and keeping his log, quoting from it, Keefer’s advice?
13. Queeg going on the stand, booking, the denials, issues of memory, his nervousness, twiddling his thumbs, the balls in his pocket, Greenwald and his further interrogations, the tangle of the stories, the cheese, the strawberries, his further entangling himself, his beginning to rant, self-justification, his condemnation of the men, their lack of discipline, order, his extremism, shirt hanging out…? Greenwald getting him to read out his positive testimony about Maryk?
14. The final effect of Queeg testimony? The prosecutor and her business? Greenwald and his final comments? Talking with Maryk, saying he had murdered Queeg? Doing his duty as a defence lawyer?
15. Discussions of mental health, sanity and insanity, signs and symptoms, control, paranoia, self-esteem, self-justification? Perfectionism?
16. The aftermath, the issue of the party, whether Greenwald would go or not, his drinking, arrival, his harsh words, the confrontation with Keefer, exposing him as the power behind the throne, Keefer wanting to get Queeg, writing the novel, the money? And throwing the drink and his face?
17. The finale, the sudden stop, leaving the audience to assess what they had seen, the defensive Queeg and his long service, yet his failure in command? The role of Maryk, respect and disrespect? Experience? And the malice of Keefer?