Hello there, and welcome to the final Film Club blog of the academic year! Yes, its almost that time again, to put the pens down and pick the suitcases up. But before you jet off on your summer holidays, why not pick up a film or two from the library to watch while you’re off or scroll e-stream for some family fun? This month’s theme is the great genre of spy films, and though we have no Bond, we do have two British classics and two underrated American gems for you to enjoy.

 

The first of the British duo, is the hilarious Johnny English (2003), directed by Peter Howitt. It stars the legendary Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean’s Holiday, Four Weddings and a Funeral) in the title role, with the likes of Ben Miller (Paddington 2), Natalie Imbruglia and John Malkovich (Con Air, RED) supporting him. Atkinson’s English, is a clumsy but passionate MI7 agent who dreams of being Agent One (the top agent); and when an accident leads to the deaths of all other agents, he gets his chance. He must thwart a plot to steal the Crown Jewels at an event held by French magnate Pascal Sauvage (Malkovich), which may yet prove to just a piece of something even more nefarious.
 
With the help of his dutiful assistant Angus Bough (Miller), Johnny must navigate the complex machinations of the political world to prove to everyone he truly is the agent Britain needs. This spy spoof unsurprisingly saw mixed reactions from critics but audiences loved it. It’s perfect family entertainment and a popular guilty pleasure viewing. Two sequels were subsequently released, Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Johnny English Strikes Again (2018), while a fourth entry is in development. You can loan the start of the franchise now on DVD. Plus, click the link below to get a glimpse of the laughs, by watching the clip of Johnny being assigned his first mission:
 
 
 
The second British entry, is the much more old-fashioned drama – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011). An adaptation of the 1974 John le CarrĂ© novel, it is directed by Tomas Alfredson and features an ensemble cast including: Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, Harry Potter), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Kingsman), CiarĂĄn Hinds (Belfast) and Toby Jones (The Hunger Games). Oldman portrays British intelligence agent George Smiley, who is forcibly retired alongside his boss “Control” after an operation gone wrong. In the aftermath, Sir Percy Alleline (Jones) aka the “Tinker” becomes the new boss, hiring Bill Haydon (Firth) and Roy Bland (Hinds) aka the “Tailor & “Soldier” as his deputies.
 
After discovering a mole within the agency however, the undersecretary of state recruits Smiley to covertly investigate and find them. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was a massive success, winning BAFTA’s Outstanding British Film award, while Oldman was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. In terms of the critics, David Gritten [The Daily Telegraph] labelled it “a triumph” and rated it a full five stars, while Peter Travers [Rolling Stone] praised it as – “easily one of the year’s best films”. The quintessential espionage thriller is available on both & e-stream and you can view the trailer by clicking the link below:
 
 
 
 
Travelling ‘across the pond’, the first American entry is Burn After Reading (2008), directed by The Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men). The impressive cast for this black comedy includes – Brad Pitt (Troy, Moneyball), Frances McDormand (Fargo, Nomadland), George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven 2001, Gravity), John Malkovich (The Man in The Iron Mask) and Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia). The plot begins with CIA analyst Osborne Cox quitting his job when faced with demotion. Having learned of this, his wife Katie (Swinton) begins to divorce him and hopes to turn her affair with U.S. Marshal Harry (Clooney) into a proper relationship. Osborne meanwhile, decides to write a memoir to fill his time; though unbeknownst to him a draft is copied by Katie along with files for her divorce lawyer.
 
By a series of unfortunate events, a disk with the copied files is accidently left at a local gym. It is found by trainer Chad (Pitt) and his co-worker Linda (McDormand), who proceed to blackmail Osborne over what they think to be highly sensitive information contained within his memoir. This does not go as planned however, especially when the increasingly paranoid Harry gets involved. Described as “a tightly wound, slickly plotted spy comedy” by Andrew Pulver [The Guardian], it both intrigues and entertains in abundance, due to a stylish script and a fabulous cast. This underrated gem is available only on e-stream and you can a catch a glimpse of the hilarity by watching the clip in the link below:
 
 
 
Lastly, we have Peter Segal’s Get Smart (2008). Though a remake of a 1960s U.S. TV series of the same name, it is also pretty much the American version of Johnny English. Comedic giant Steve Carrell is in the lead role (Anchorman, Despicable Me), supported by the likes of: Anne Hathaway (Les MisĂ©rables, The Devil Wears Prada), Dwayne Johnson (Moana, Jumanji: The Next Level), Alan Arkin (Argo, Little Miss Sunshine) and Terence Stamp (Superman II). Carrell plays Maxwell Smart, an analyst for the spy agency CONTROL, while he dreams of being a field agent but is constantly rejected by the Chief (Arkin).
 
When CONTROL headquarters is attacked by rival organisation KAOS, who obtain all the identities of active field agents, the unknown Max is promoted to the rank of field Agent 86. He is partnered with Agent 99 (Hathaway) and tasked with uncovering and stopping KAOS plan, while retrieving the list of agents before more harm can be done to them. The two face friction along the way however, from veteran Agent 23 (Johnson). It’s funny, thrilling and enjoyable – Steve Carrell is at his comedic best with a stellar supporting cast. Richard Roeper [Chicago Sun-Times] labelled it as – “one of the more pleasant films of the year”. Loan it now only on DVD and view a clip of Max’s mishaps on a plane by clicking the link below:
 
 
 
Here’s to another year almost done, the summer break on the horizon. When you get the chance, why not have a rest and watch one of these highly entertaining movies, they’ll improve your holidays I have no doubt. Have a happy and safe Summer everyone! And I’ll see you in September where satire awaits

 
 
 
 
 
 
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