Opération Fortune : Ruse de guerre

It would be interesting to search Guy Ritchie's filmography for common themes that he holds dear and how he has alternated between British independent films and American blockbusters. However, each of his films clearly shows a director who is always looking for new challenges and capable of going from a crime comedy (Snatch (2000), Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Gentlemen (2015)) to an adventure film (Aladdin (2019)) while passing through action films (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015), Wrath of man (2021)) and above all to spy films such as his most recent film Operation Fortune: War Ruse. 

If you look at many of his films, you will see a team of individuals who have to unite their talents to complete a difficult mission in various exotic and photogenic locations. This gifted director, who is capable of both the best and the worst, has managed to build a real relationship with actors he likes. After his previous film Wrath of Man, he finds here again for the fifth time his favorite actor Jason Statham but also Josh Hartnett. He also finds here for the second time the actor Hugh Grant (The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Gentlemen) and turns for the first time with Aubrey Plaza and Cary Elwes.

The plot seems at times to be a spin-off of Mission Impossible with a spy movie set in different countries and featuring a super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) who must track down and prevent the sale of a new and highly dangerous military weapons technology used by billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). To succeed in his mission Orson will have to reluctantly join forces with two other secret agents Sarah (Aubrey Plaza) and JJ (Bugzy Malone) and be supervised by Nathan (Cary Elwes). Orson will also see a big Hollywood star, Danny (Josh Hartnett), join his team. Their mission will gradually turn into a race against the world and Orson will have to carry out an international undercover mission in order to save the whole world from a huge danger capable of destroying the world order. The plot is more of an adventure and comedy film than an action film with memorable stunts like those performed by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.

The script co-written by Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies, Guy Ritchie seems to leave out memorable action scenes as Jason Statham used to do in the cinematographic saga Crank, Transporter or The Expendables. It's a pity because this actor excels in non-stop action movies with his sense of timing and his advantageous physique making him one of the best actors in this type of mainstream movies. It is easy to understand that what pleased the director here is to play with the rules of spy movies like those of James Bond to give life to atypical and imperfect characters who try at all costs to succeed even by making mistakes.  

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre shows once again that Guy Ritchie is a gifted storyteller and is capable of making effective films if not truly original. Like a gifted student, Guy Ritchie takes special care of the image of his film and its chases and seems to have as much fun as his actors. We can only give a very special mention to the actor Hugh Grant who, after a succession of forgettable films, seems to be taking control of his career, as judged by this film which allows him to give life to a complex character, but also, and above all, by the excellent Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves which is a hit in theaters in the United States.

Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre  is not Guy Ritchie's best film and would have deserved the presence of several big action scenes to keep up with the James Bond and Mission Impossible sagas, but it manages to entertain us effectively and will be released in Europe not in theaters but directly on Prime Video, as will be the case in England and France this Friday, April 7, 2023.
 
Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Written by Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies, Guy Ritchie
Produced by Guy Ritchie Ivan Atkinson, Bill Block
Starring Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone, Hugh Grant
Cinematography : Alan Stewart
Edited by James Herbert
Music by Christopher Benstead
Production companies: Miramax, STXfilms, Toff Guy Films
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Amazon Prime Video (United Kingdom), STXinternational (International)
Release dates : January 4, 2023 (International), March 3, 2023 (United States), April 7, 2023 (United Kingdom)
Running time : 114 minutes

Seen on March 25, 2023 (press screener)

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