Super-Soldier in Citizenfour conspiracy thriller

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

It is clear to me that Marvel Comics has got its foot in the right place when it comes to cinematic comic-book interpretations of late. The wickedly funny "Iron Man Three" was among the better entries, not to mention the fantastically escapist and grand "The Avengers." Sometimes there is a misstep - "Thor: The Dark World" comes to mind and "Iron Man 2" was not as much fun as the original or as its second sequel. Most of these movies may appear to be disposable yet "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is the underdog, a supremely exciting sequel to the patriotic warm hues of 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger." It is ambitious and buckets of comic-book flavoring fun but I sense that its political implications aimed a lot higher and were not followed through.

The musclebound super soldier, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), is now working for S.H.I.E.L.D but something is rotten at the core of the top-secret agency. The eyepatch-wearing Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) also senses something is afoot - he is right since S.H.I.E.L.D has been compromised but by whom and why? A certain Project Insight may have something to do with it, and we get preliminary speeches about satellites, massive gun ships and World Security Council members discussing pre-emptive strikes and national security. Hey, it is not exactly Edward Snowden's whistleblower stuff but it is nice to see a pop movie engaging in such issues of national importance. Nevertheless, before more can be said, Cap America is back in action, wielding his armored shield with ease. Action scenes are more startling than before, especially the highly intense scene with Nick Fury trying to evade the agency's gun-toting minions while driving a bulletproof vehicle. Meanwhile, Cap partners with the luscious, dreamy-eyed and tough-as-nails Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson) as they are on the run, discovering that a terrorist organization known as Hydra has been preparing since the days of WWII for a New World Order by making their citizens surrender privacy for security (Alex Jones would have a field day with this).

You want glorious action in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," you got it in spades. You want a political conspiracy tale that feels consistently urgent, you got it. What elevates this material above the usual is the crucial, topnotch casting of Robert Redford as the villainous senior S.H.I.E.L.D official Alexander Pierce, who shoots his own maid without blinking an eye. Just as surprising is the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), a brainwashed super-soldier from the WWII days, once frozen in ice, who used to be buddies with Steve Rogers - he is a masked, black-clad assassin who carries small disc-like explosives. He is a good match for Steve's pro-WWII, pro-America, strong values superhero - this Winter Soldier is a brutal lightning rod of vengeance. In fact, both heroes seems out of their element in the modern era of government surveillance and New World Order paranoia. Who do you trust?

If I find fault with this otherwise splendid and fantastically plotted "Captain America" sequel, it's that the paranoia angle could've been spruced up. When we get to an overextended action climax where gigantic CGI ships (known as Helicarriers) explode in smithereens in unison while watching Cap and his pal Falcon (Anthony Mackie) fly up and down and engage in far too many fistfights, the subtext gets lost somewhat (Marvel, we need not always feature so much high-octane action). Most intriguing are the dialogue scenes that carry a lot of snap, especially Cap's conversations with Alexander and Nick Fury, or his intimacy with Scarlett's Black Widow (their flirtatious dance with words in between action scenes is sweet). Don't get me wrong - this movie is terrifically designed with a terrifically punchy performance by Chris Evans as Cap (he has matured into the role gracefully). I just wanted more political thrust and exposition - action is not the only element that keeps this rousing super sequel afloat.