Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Special agent Orson Fortune and his team of operatives recruit one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars to help them on an undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens to disrupt the world order.
匚卂尺ㄥ reviewedFebruary 1, 2025
From the opening scene - in which the stride of a main character through governmental corridors is brilliantly synced to the music - to the deliciously funny scene over the credits, this is a VERY classy and entertaining production. Each character is extremely well drawn, with dialogue that could only come from them and which is given perfect life by the actors. Audrey Plaza (as Sarah Fidel) in particular has some absolutely hilarious moments, but really everyone has a cracking line or five. The plot romps along nicely, with the best pacing I've encountered in an action movie in a very long time.
I've probably watched this film - or listened to the dialogue and soundtrack as I've been working - at least ten times already since I first discovered it a couple of months ago, and honestly I think this isn't just my favourite film of the year but also one of my favourite films of all time. Which was unexpected, as I'm not a big fan of previous Guy Ritchie films, even those written by the same team (although I definitely enjoyed Chris Benstead's score in a couple of previous Ritchie films I watched recently in hopes that they'd be just as good).
The concept is that a team of mercenaries working for the UK government are after a mysterious stolen item of great value called "The Handle", the sale of which is being mediated by arms dealer Hugh Grant - who (as per usual) plays a MUCH better bad guy than any of the floppy-haired romantic leads the poor man was forced to play in his early career. In order to get close to Grant's character, they enlist-slash-force the help of a Hollywood star he adores (played excellently by Josh Hartnett, who seems to be making a career out of such roles).
The lead merc Orson Fortune - played with perfect comedic timing by Jason Statham - has fantastic instincts as an operative but is occasionally a bit stupid. For example: near the start, he's apparently unaware that his girlfriend is cheating on him until his handler (the irresistibly charming Cary Elwes) informs him; later, he's in trouble after leaving an op via the obviously wrong exit. I really loved this because it speaks to how people who are brilliant in some areas are totally clueless in others - which, of course, is why operating as a team (including a very nice performance by Bugzy Malone) is such a great idea.
There are so many great lines and quips I can't possibly list them all here, but what really appealed to me were the many hilarious interactions between or involving Orson and Sarah. I also loved that the lone female main character (there is another strong female character but she has minimal dialogue) is really assertive and funny. I still remember seeing Guy Ritchie's King Arthur movie and thinking the female characters were either cardboard cutouts or classified as uncanny; this movie is a hundred times better in that respect.
I could list a dozen great lines of dialogue, but rather than spoil things I will simply encourage anyone reading this to watch the film - if it appeals, you'll be hooked in the first five minutes :-)