• Give it up to James Gunn- the action director (and comedian) has gone from Marvel to DC and has not lost his identity. This is a James Gunn film through and through and makes for a great companion piece to 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
  • Gunn loves his needle drops from John Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” to Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died”.
  • The Suicide Squad is a film about excess- laughs and violence. These are ensemble films about outcasts on a mission (Seven Samurai, The Dirty Dozen, Inglourious Basterds).
  • A strong reflection shot off a puddle of Michael Rooker (back from Guardians)
  • The film breezes along with the music, jokes, and the inspired title transitions (one from a toilet seat, another about freeing Harley in flames).
  • Gunn is quick to undercut every seemingly serious moment with a comedic one—and some of the action does feel like Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)—parody from Jim Abrahams.
  • With the extended ensemble, it does feel like there are almost multiple films within The Suicide Squad—and I mean that as a compliment. I remarked that Guardians felt like it had two Han Solo characters— well I don’t know about Han Solo, but both the Harley Quinn story and Idris Elba’s Bloodsport are driving the action—both stories are involving (though I’m not sure if either is enough to stand on its own) with more-than-capable actors featured.
  • At the 73-minute mark there is a brilliant little sequence with a closeup of Margot Robbie’s Quinn with animated flowers behind her. After that, the scene continues with an almost Oldboy-like action sequence as Quinn destroys her foes in front of a gorgeous stained glass window backdrop.
  • John Cena (Peacemaker) and Elba have a picturesque showdown shot at the 101-minute mark as well- Gunn goes wide with the actors on the very edges of the frame- a lovely composition.
  • Gunn is hilarious “if we find out you have personalized license plates— you die” and weird as hell (the starfish Godzilla).
  • Recommend but not in the top 10 of 2021