Movie Review: Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre is a globe-trotting, slick spy thriller that is non-stop fun and never overly complicated.

Operation Fortune gets going right from the start. Co-writer/director Guy Ritchie wastes no time in establishing the players of the film. Nathan (Cary Elwes), working for some sort of British intelligence agency, is putting together a team of the best spies he can get his hands on in order to stop the sale of deadly weapons that could alter the world. He first reaches out to Orson Fortune (Jason Statham), one of the most renowned secret agents in the world. Fortune is reluctant to take the job at first but does so on his own terms. Nathan also brings in Sarah (Aubrey Plaza), a computer whiz, and JJ (Bugzy Malone), a sharpshooter who can do just about everything.

When the crew finds out that the weapons transaction is being run by billionaire psycho Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant), they realize the only way for them to get close to him is by bringing in Hollywood actor Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) onto the team because Greg is obsessed with him. It then becomes a race against the clock as we watch Fortune and the team try and stop the sale of the weapons before it is too late while not having their covers blown or getting Francesco killed.

Ruse de guerre is a French phrase literally meaning “the ruse of war”. The phrase can also be broken down into two groups. The first group classifies the phrase as military deception. The second group classifies it as acts against one’s opponent by creative, clever, and unorthodox means. Both groups, deception, and creativity, apply to this team and this movie. As we’ve seen in previous Ritchie movies, he likes to mess with our perception of what we are seeing versus what is actually going on. From Sherlock Holmes to The Man from U.N.C.L.E to Wrath of Man, Ritchie creates characters and movies that are steps ahead of their audience and he does the same in Operation Fortune. While we think we know what is happening and what our characters are going to do next, Ritchie always has a surprise in store for us, making for an exciting and unpredictable movie-watching experience. And even with the twists and turns throughout Operation Fortune, the film never felt overly complicated. The film moves at a rapid pace, the dialog is fast and catchy, and there are several characters, but I was never confused about what was going on or who was double-crossing who. It all tied up nicely in the end and I had a blast the entire time.

The cast of Operation Fortune is a mix of Ritchie regulars and new favorites. Statham, who has been in most of Ritchie’s movies, does what he does best in being a certified ass-kicker who seems unstoppable. Plaza, new to the action-film genre, is wonderful and brings her patented quick, dry humor to the film while also being badass. She and Statham have some great back-and-forth rapport that offers up plenty of laughs. Hartnett gives his best performance in years as Francesco. And Hugh Grant gives an extraordinary performance as Simmonds. Grant exudes the arrogance, evil, and charm of Simmonds perfectly and has a monolog during the film’s finale that might be some of the best acting he has ever done in his career.

Ritchie is one of the most fun directors working today and Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre is yet another hit for the British director. It’s a compelling mystery full of colorful characters, explosive action sequences, smart and amusing dialog, and an all-star cast. It’s a real treat and a ton of fun.

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