by Frank Calvillo
Some say the villain is always the best part of a movie, and for good reason. Think of any film (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, action titles in particular) which has a villain in it and you will undoubtedly have the film’s most memorable character. They are usually the most animated and dynamic part of any film which features a menacing presence whose sole mission is to thwart the valiant efforts of the story’s hero. Such characters are larger than life, exist in a different world than most, operate by their own rules and command attention in ways most cannot. An audience will pretty much side with the good-hearted protagonist on every occasion, but it’s the villain they remember. What would happen then if a movie came along where it’s central characters were comprised of almost nothing BUT villains? Well, Suicide Squad answers such a question in truly show-stopping ways.
In Suicide Squad, high-ranking government official Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has assembled an elite task force comprised of some of the most dangerous criminals known to man. Comprising the group is the assassin Deadshot (Will Smith), the maniacal Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), firestarter Diablo (Jay Hernandez) and the unhinged Boomerang (Jai Courtney), among others. The purpose of the team is to use their varied abilities should an event of cataclysmic proportions occur. When such an instance DOES come involving an ancient enchantress (Cara Delevingne) with plans for world domination, Amanda sets her motley crew of troops into motion led by her determined right hand man Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman). Waiting in the wings however is the highly certifiable, yet fiendishly comedic Joker (Jared Leto), who is intent on freeing Harley, the love of his life.
Doubtless many will say that Suicide Squad is a bloated and grandiose experience to no end. And they would certainly be right. There isn’t a moment throughout the film which doesn’t feel like it has the ghost of every other DC movie watching from behind. But that is far from a bad thing. Suicide Squad is so incredibly operatic in terms of style and execution, with the soul and importance of each moment heightened to full, glorious effect for the audience to savor. This is true not only of the many impressive action sequences, but in the non-shoot-em-up moments, such as the first time we encounter Harley, who is performing a somewhat enticing trapeze act while “You Don’t Own Me” plays in the background. Every inch of Suicide Squad encapsulates what summer movies once were: giant cinematic rollercoaster rides that move as fast as they can, taking audiences on an adrenaline-filled journey where they don’t know what’s going to come next.
No one can deny the bold originality of populating a superhero movie with nothing but villains. However, if there’s any real stumbling block to having a film filled with what are meant to be antagonists, it’s that there really isn’t anyone to hate. Thankfully, the filmmakers have avoided making the characters (most of them anyhow) into straight-up evil beings or sentimental softies. Most of the characters’ backgrounds are explored to an extent, but only enough to ensure that even thought we don’t necessarily have to sympathize with them, we should at least understand them. In keeping with that in mind, it should be reminded that he point of Suicide Squad isn’t characterization, conflict or the search for redemption. We should be given SOME idea of the outrageous figures we are watching on the screen, but the subject of the film is the mission and the task at hand, which these colorful individuals take on in the most explosive of ways.
Actors have repeatedly said how much they love villainous roles, mainly due to the scenery-chewing aspects such characters offer. This is certainly the case here as every actor is enjoying his or her devilish role to no end. While Smith tries to insert a little bit too much humanity into Deadshot, Robie hits it out of the park every single time as Harley, making sure that the audience notices her and no one else when she’s around. Hernandez has shaped the perfect anti-hero in Diablo, making him both so tortured and guarded, that he ends up being the film’s most deceptively complex character. Most eyes are on Leto however, and they should be as he has finally found the right ingredients to bring the iconic Joker to life. While those who came before him performed admirably in the role, Leto is the first to truly master the character’s theatrical nature and mix it with a devious playfulness.
Praise must also be given to both Kinnaman and Davis, who manage to stand out among their co-star’s flashier characters. The former brings an unexpected depth to Flagg, making him a soldier questioning both his beliefs and his alliance. As for the latter, while Davis has never attempted a role such as this before, the actress proves she’s more than at home in the comic book world. Her take on Amanda is such a marvel to behold, especially in the way she plays around with the character’s ambiguous nature. In many ways it’s Davis who walks away with the best part in Suicide Squad, taking her versatility as an actress to even higher levels.
I had one or two complaints with Suicide Squad. For one, there isn’t enough of the Joker in the script. Why showcase such a grand character only to make him come off as marginalized? Second, the enchantress is a fine enough heavy, but she’s not threatening enough to be feared. Maybe this is because those sent in to destroy her are far more dangerous and interesting than she is. Meanwhile a cameo from Batman (Ben Affleck) is a reminder of a less fun comic book movie lacking the tantalizing mischief that runs wild throughout Suicide Squad. All of that aside, the film has proven itself to be the saving grace of one of the most lackluster summer movie seasons in recent memory simply thanks to its desire to go over-the-top and never come down.
