As the first film reviewed on this blog just over a year ago, returning to it for a review is rather interesting. But as time goes on, opinions change, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier is no different. With the challenge to prove that not only can Captain America still hold his own movie, but also survive in the modern world against the 1940s backdrop from 2011's The First Avenger. But as an Avengers 1.5 - bridging the gap between the 2012 hit and its upcoming successor - it earns more reasoning of a viewing for those audiences who weren't particularly bothered about the first film. But with the upheaval of its initial genre and going for a political thriller vibe, and with a director duo best known for their work on cult comedy Community, can The Winter Soldier actually be good?
With Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) on the road to fitting in to present day life, he nows spends his time as a S.H.I.E.L.D strike team member alongside fellow Avenger Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Agent Rumlow (Frank Grillo). But after learning that the missions he's been taking have had alternative motives, and discovering that S.H.I.E.L.D's next ploy is to launch a project which neutralises threats before they happen, it becomes clear to Rogers that something is wrong and that the organisation he serves has been infiltrated. Add a mysterious assassin known only as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) taking out anyone who stands in the way, and it's clear that Rogers has to take down the threat with only Black Widow, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), and the usual S.H.I.E.L.D alum able to help save the day. It's an interesting change of pace by comparison of The First Avenger, and one that works really well for Captain America - a character who believes in his country but not by some of the ways it's run. As he says, "This isn't freedom. This is fear". It's a smart move on Marvel's part, and leads to a great story which does hinge on the mid-section twist a little too much. It's a great twist, and does add to some of what was seen in Marvel's Avengers Assemble, but does lose rewatchability value.
For a duo of TV directors, and a duo who occasionally separate for some projects (they've only directed one episode of Community together), they do a great job with their first big gig. It's a film that looks great and does the characters justice. Whilst the camera can often be too shaky for certain shots, the rest is just a great aesthetic and fits the film really well - thank god the duo are returning for next year's Captain America: Civil War and the two parter Infinity War in 2018/2019. It's a well-directed action feature debut.
Chris Evans is really taking the role of Captain America into his own and selling it well. You can't imagine anyone else in the role, and that's because Evans gives it his all and everything he's got. Add to his great choreography and dedication to the physique, he proves that this isn't just another comic book role a la Fantastic Four and Scott Pilgrim VS The World. Meanwhile, female lead Johansson continues to prove that she deserves her own film for her performance which would have been her best of 2014 (had it not been for the delayed UK release for Her). Newbie Mackie, whilst questionable for the reasoning to be part of team Cap, does an admirable job as the Falcon - and thank god they didn't go for the red and white outfit from the comics. Jackson does his standard Nick Fury performance, and Colbie Smulders as Maria Hill - whilst nice to see her again - is rather limited in her role. There's also Emily VanCamp as potential future love interest Sharon Carter who does a good job in an otherwise insignificant role, whilst returnee Hayley Atwell adds some heart to the first act in a small but poignant appearance.
As for S.H.I.E.L.D senior leader Alexander Pierce, Robert Redford does do a great job, but his allegiance would have been better if he'd kept his mouth shut during the promtional run. Still, a good performance. The actor who gets the short straw is the Winter Soldier himself Sebastian Stan, as his character heavily relies on a twist that could only ever work in the comics because it could be shrouded in secrecy easily, whereas the movie interpretation is harder to pull off as audiences recognise the actor. It doesn't help that he's sidelined in his own movie for the main plot revolving around S.H.I.E.L.D, by Stan does do his hardest. Grillo is more of a henchman role if anything, made only to put fans in a flurry because his character becomes a supervillain in the comics (and maybe the films, going by his comeuppance), and it's pleasing to see appearances from Toby Jones, Maximiliano Hernández and Garry Shandling (yes, even he's fine in this movie). There's also sneaky cameos from Danny Pudi from Community (I'll shut up about it now) and comedian DC Pierson, and their appearances succeed in making the audience laugh.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a film that relies heavily on its twists and turns in the same way as Iron Man 3 does with its Mandarin joke, and doesn't use the Winter Soldier aspect to its best value. That said, it is a film that looks great and features some strong performances by both the returning cast and the new additions. The Russo Brothers have made Captain America cool, and that takes a lot of guts. 9/10.
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