Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

What a pleasure to find our favorite adventurer in a new adventure. The Indiana Jones saga is a cult cinematic saga that follows the adventures of the main character, Indiana Jones, an archaeologist and adventurer. Created by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg, the saga combines action, adventure and historical themes, and consisted of four films: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). 

These films tell the story of Indiana Jones' quest to uncover ancient artifacts while battling various adversaries, including Nazis, cults and supernatural forces. The character, played by Harrison Ford, has become an iconic figure in pop culture, known for his fedora, whip and fearlessness in the face of danger. For those of us who grew up in the 80s, the Indiana Jones film saga left a lasting impression on our memories, and made us want to go back to the cinema to discover equally successful films. The many derivative products and video games have ensured that the Indiana Jones universe has found an important place in the hearts of moviegoers, and despite a certain disappointment on discovering Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, we were hoping and waiting to discover this latest chapter with Harrison Ford in the lead role before a hypothetical reboot or new series for Disney +.

In this new installment, the action is at the heart of the story, taking place over two important periods and in different countries. In 1944, Indiana Jones helps his colleague Basil Shaw thwart Nazi leader Jürgen Voller's efforts to acquire a mysterious artifact called the Antikythera Dial. Twenty-five years later, in 1969, Indiana Jones is troubled by the U.S. government's decision to enlist former Nazis to gain an advantage over the Soviet Union in the space race. Because of his opposition to this practice, he risks losing his teaching position and is about to retire. Unexpectedly, he is joined by his goddaughter Helena Shaw, Basil's daughter, and they embark on a quest for the Antikythera dial... At the same time, Voller, now a member of NASA and a former Nazi involved in the Apollo moon-landing program, harbors ambitions to shape the world according to his own vision of a better place thanks to this dial. 

This latest installment in the legendary Indiana Jones franchise, starring Harrson Ford in the title role, delivers on many fronts. The film features all the familiar elements that fans have come to love, including Nazis, daring adventures and ancient artifacts. It also introduces new characters, such as Indy's goddaughter Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Screenwriters Jez and John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp worked with James Mangold to deliver a script that paid homage to the previous films and, above all, offered an aging version of his character. It's no coincidence, then, that the director of Logan (2017) is back in the director's chair after Steven Spielberg stepped down.

The film gets off to a strong start with a long, thrilling prologue set during the Second World War, featuring impressive aging technology to bring a rejuvenated version of Harrison Ford to the screen. This process, already used in other films with less than convincing results, works wonders here, and is only used in this striking introduction. The action sequences that follow are just as well executed, maintaining the pace throughout the film without any false notes, without ever succeeding in surpassing the formidable efficiency of the first three installments. Although the partnership between Indy and Helena isn't as comical as expected, the film makes up for it with its action scenes and respect for the classic Indiana Jones formula. John Williams' iconic score adds to the nostalgic experience, making this a comfortingly familiar reboot.

However, the film is not perfect. The comedic elements that made the previous films so charming are pretty much reduced to a minimum here. The modern setting of 1960s New York and the context of the space race clash with the nostalgic adventure series that defines the Indiana Jones series. This gives the impression of an aging Indiana Jones who has failed to find his place, and whose past adventures have forever changed his view of the world. Director James Mangold proves to be an excellent choice, because despite the film's weaknesses, he brings a very special touch to it, delivering the best adventure film of this year and showing us that Harrison Ford is an exceptional actor who is as comfortable in action scenes despite his age as he is in dramatic ones. 

The film's final act takes bold, surprising turns that are likely to divide fans. It doubles down on the franchise's over-the-top nature, recalling earlier films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. By erasing all traces of the horrific scenes present in the first two installments and proposing to tackle the notion of time, the script offers some surprising choices.  Although it won't please everyone, the film respects the spirit of Indiana Jones and offers a successful conclusion to Harrison Ford's interpretation of the beloved character. The film's final scene moved us to tears, as if we were saying goodbye to someone close to us, and telling ourselves that aging is inexorable and that we must enjoy life's pleasures to the full. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny may not reach the same heights as the original trilogy, but it manages to capture the essence of an Indiana Jones film and offer an entertaining and unforgettable experience.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Directed by James Mangold
Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold
Based on Characters by George Lucas, Philip Kaufman
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Simon Emanuel
Starring Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkelsen, Karen Allen
Cinematography : Phedon Papamichael
Edited by Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland, Dirk Westervelt
Music by John Williams
Production companies : Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm Ltd.
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Release dates : May 18, 2023 (Cannes), June 28, 2023 (France), June 30, 2023 (United States)
Running time : 154 minutes

Seen on June 12, 2023 at Pathé Beaugrenelle, Dolby room

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