Kingsman is a welcome return for Matthew
Vaughn whose last film X-Men First Class came out in 2011. The film is adapted
from the comic he co created with Mark Millar and once again screenwriting
duties are shared between Vaughn and Jane Goldman. It would be easy to look at
the creative team and say that Kingsman is to spy films what Kick-Ass was to
superhero films yet I think that would be wrong as Kingsman is much better than
Kick-Ass and it also has much more to say.
In the same way last year Wes Anderson made
a film about the holocaust and the second world war without a single mention of
the those events in the script Vaughn has made a film about the London riots
without really focusing on them. Kingsman is an angry film behind everything
there is a sense of anger about the state of Britain. Its angry that Britain is
run by an elite born into their positions and those at the bottom are ignored
not matter how smart they are.
The films central protagonist is “Eggsy”
(Taron Egerton) Eggsy is down on his luck since the death of his father his
family seems to have fallen apart he lives on a run down council estate his
mother is married to a horrible stepfather and their flat is grimy and dirty.
When Eggsy nicks and ruins the car of his stepfather mate it seems like a cry
for help. After this he is released due to favour owed to his family and then
things start to look up for Eggsy as he is taken in by veteran Kingsman agent
Harry Hart (Colin Firth). Soon Eggsy is in the running for a place as a
Kingsman agent and here the films reflections on class continue as Eggsy is up
against people who come off like posh toffs there because of their parents
money and no skill.
Kingsman is definitely Vaughn’s best film.
The direction is spot on the fight sequences have this fast paced energy to
them everything has this chaotic sensibility that grips and excites you. There
is a scene in a church during the film that is one of the best violent action
scene of recent years. Yet its not just the action scenes that are well made
everything in the film has this sense of quality to it, George Richmond’s
cinematography stands out all of the colours are bold and sharp the camera
style is fluid to move with what the film requires. For instance in the church
fight scene there are lots of tracking shots edited together in this fast paced
frantic manner but at other points it’s still and lets everything on frame sink
in. For instance you can see this in the trailer when Harry shows Eggsy and
elaborate inventive weapons cabinet. The performances are great as well Egerton
perfectly encapsulates the character of Eggsy he plays him with warmth and
proves that heroes can come form anywhere they don’t need to be a part of the
elite. The real stars of the show however are Colin Firth and Samuel L Jackson.
Firth completely embodies the gentleman spy yet also shows us a whole new side
to him with his sense of comedic timing and a skilled use of swear words.
Jackson plays the villain with such campness and flourish you totally get the
sense that he is having fun with the part people think serious dramatic acting
is hard but this is proper acting you completely by Jackson as the villain, his
sense of character and fun lift the film from great to excellent.
Kingsman is one of the best action films of
recent years. It’s been four years waiting for Vaughn but it was worth it
Kingsman is a big fun joyous film but justifies its style with a moral message going
against the British elite.
5/5 Stars
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