REVIEW: THE 355

3.5/5

Who Runs The World (Women).

124 Mins. Starring: Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong'o, Édgar Ramírez & Sebastian Stan. Director: Simon Kinberg. 

International intel for you. If you live in a foreign country and are a native speaker of English who knows no other language, no matter how hard you try (I'm learning). Maybe wait until 'The 355' spy action movie comes out on DVD or streaming services before you watch it. It's only a matter of time too, as sadly the multiplexes are dying on the vine corona quarantined them too. But the '355' is so international you'll be lost in translation like this writer on its Japanese release this week. The same time star Jessica Chastain's Oscar worthy performance as 'The Eyes Of Tammy Faye' is made available on Disney + over here in the Far East. As like watching the sign-language of the game-changing 'Coda', or this years 'Parasite' that could do the international/best picture double in the Haruki Murakami 'Burning' like 'Men Without Women' short-story Beatles inspired, 'Drive My Car' (which this writer wanted to turn into a movie years ago with Hiroyuki Sanada set in the Park Hyatt like Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, just saying), we don't have a problem with the one-inch tall barrier at the bottom of the screen like Trump. However, living just outside of Tokyo in Yokohama, these amazing films don't come with English subtitles, obviously. But we shall overcome. I literally brought Boston Celtic and Minnesota Timberwolves basketball icon Kevin Garnett's 'A to Z' autobiography in kanji that is just the big ticket and targeted goal to work towards in my language learning. Still, I missed a lot in this movie, like Milwaukee and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (now a wonderful writers) Substack swipe at the Chinese favouritism in this film by a financing company from that country in the same week the Beijing, 2021 Winter Olympics are causing a different controversy than the pandemic one of Tokyo, 2020. That's not the only problem this movie has. Pre-corona, Cannes. Way back in 2018 or the B.C. (before corona) days that seem like lifetimes ago. Huddled up together before social distance in elegant black dresses that subtly scream "Milan' like Gaga in 'House Of Gucci' for the perfect photo of the next great female fronted franchise with action avengence was the best actress in the world right now Jessica Chastain. The undeniably iconic and indie movie legend Penélope Cruz. '12 Years A Slave' Oscar winner and 'Black Panther' and 'Star Wars' franchise star Lupita Nyong'o, whose allure was still so present after all those years since her '12' breakout. Chinese megastar Fan Bingbing, whose scene-stealing 'X Men: Days Of Future Past' Blink opened up a portal to a whole new world in Hollywood. And the world actress of best actresses in the world, who you see on billboards from cinemas to airports like Chanel as often as we used to globe-trott. 

Marion Cotillard is now missing on a milk carton. But only from this movie. Not in real life like Fan Bingbing scarily once was M.I.A. The French actress gone like that explosive Eiffell Tower scene we're sure we saw in a teaser trailer (or as that another movie? So much blends in to one blockbuster these groundhog days). No matter, these are tense times. It's the end of the world as we know it...and we're fine without another disaster movie disturbing our R.E.M. And Cotillard's compelling replacement is more than that. Just like what she brought to the poker table for her iconic 'Inglorious Basterds' cameo that also made some Macbeth and Magneto called Michael famous in a Fassbender moment too, going out, speaking the King's. All as 'Mr and Mrs. Smith' writer and 'X-Men: Dark Phoenix' (also with Chastain (she pitched this 355 movie on set) and Michael Fassbender. As amazing as Sophie Turner is in these game of mutant superhero thrones. Someone missed a trick not casting Jessica as Jean back in the day) director Simon Kinberg brings them all together. Gunning as the camera pans 'round in their own 'Avengers' like comic-book look assemble in a third act that emotionally and epically in lights, camera and action lifts the first half of this movie that is victim to the fact that spy genres are no longer Milk Tray sexy (despite these actresses appeal, that is way more than A-list aesthetic) like they were. Despite Bond, Bourne and even Ethan Hunt revivals before all the 'Kingsmen' played it for graphic novel keeps. It's to this end that we have another series on our hands. Even if for every 'Black Widow' there is a 'Red Sparrow'. And every price of 'Salt' there is an underrated 'Rhythm Section' with a live wire Blake Lively as this movie crosses those same streams. All to become the new 'Oceans 8' looking for afterlife in the same weekend in Japan that the new 'Ghostbusters' movie comes out the ghost in the shell trap. Side note, that 2016 proton pack reboot was so much better than critics chided. Those men mumbling because it was an all women team and causing the cancer of a social media crucifixion was led by no other than the man no one wants to be compared to. The Donald. Grab at something else, you pussies. 

Because anything guys can do, girls can do better like Beyoncé sang when she 'Ran The World' for the new empowering anthem. Just like sports leagues like the WNBA levelling the playing field, or even Japan's own Naomi Osaka giving those who dream about more than male manipulated manner an ace in the hole. So what if some of this movie loses you with it's language?! Translating to more territories, it could be a world and game changer in a time were the one as we know it is shut down, if only we let it. Besides the plot of these actions could always be scrawled on the back of a serviette in a French restaurant if you want to get romantic. You get the picture. Yet the frame of this one has more within its sniper scope. Reading more like a fine wine list than a number folded in a cocktail napkin, or set fire to on the back of a book of matches. Just like the sensational set-pieces that chase you around cities as perfect as postcards between the explanation exposition that bogs you down like layering on more twists than moped street turns. In a year where she could do the Academy/Emmy duo for 'Tammy' and some 'Most Violent' 'Scenes From A Marriage' reuniting with Oscar Isaac before his 'Moon Knight', Chastain's CIA character is classic in lead like she was amazing in her solo spy action 'Ava', another victim of the pandemic in 2020. Whilst Penélope Cruz's DNI psychologist is the heart and soul of this crew like Lupita Nyong'o is the MI6 brains of this outstanding operation. Still no stranger to brawling and that single tear acting out of a Washington playbook that could floor you as it hits the ground in all its epic emotion. Whilst 'In The Fade' of Marion, 'Troy' and 'Unknown' actress Diane Kruger makes you forget the critics like she does who dropped out. As her bruising and beautifully brutal BND performance is the substance to this spy's style that does see them hit the catwalk for a gala that could show curtains to the Met. But in a cast that features 'Pam and Tommy's' Sebastian Stan at his 'Winter Soldier' best for a great part, even if you think that him talking to his own penis ("Bucky?!") as Tommy Lee right now is something else altogether (it really is), and an underused but always undeniable Édgar Ramírez getting in on the action. It's the Ministry of Fan Bingbing that really steals the show, from her kick ass introduction to the third act set in neon stunning Shanghai, were she shines. It reminds us of the days when Michelle Yeoh kicked ass in Hong Kong cinema like Chan and what the world would be like these days if so much wasn't concealed due to corona and more threats to the world. This crew doing the numbers in this gunpowder milkshake has potential. Even if sometimes they skip a trick like a moment were an iPhone revealing the time just after four could have easily read 15.44 in Easter Egg for all those people who think it means something when they see the same time on their screen. The title of this movie comes from the codename for female spies for the Patriots during the American revolution. But this is a world one. Even if sometimes shooting for the new star led stratosphere it misfires like the gun jam of a missed opportunity. 3.5 stars for 'The 355', but will there be a 356? Or is this franchise starter simply a spy's goodbye? Either way, it's time you raised your glass. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Ava', 'The Rhythm Section', 'Black Widow'.