Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
2020 · Directed by Cathy Yan
Original language: English
- action
- crime
The story
Harley Quinn joins forces with a singer, an assassin and a police detective to help a young girl who had a hit placed on her after she stole a rare diamond from a crime lord.
What it’s like
Saturated, candy-bright Gotham in a grimy, neon-lit night: pinks, acid greens and chrome reflections against soot-dark streets, with the camera jumping and whip-panning through the action and breaking in to talk straight to the viewer. Its sound is loud and pop-driven, a rush of needle drops over quick cuts and comic-book sound effects, then sudden pockets of quiet when a character stops to catch their breath. The vibe is chaotic, flippant and sugar-coated with real grime underneath, best for a loud Friday night or a boisterous group watch rather than anything soothing. The pacing is relentless and episodic, with fight sequences, chases and nightclub set pieces stacked closely together, and the emotional register swings between gleeful bravado and bruised loneliness as its female ensemble, a reckless antihero, a hard-edged singer, an assassin and a weary detective, slowly form an unlikely loyalty. Intensity is high: frequent stylised violence, gunfire, knife fights and bloody injuries, plus strong language and some sexual innuendo, though the tone stays cartoonish rather than harrowing. It suits fans of irreverent comic-book capers who enjoy dark humour and girl-power swagger.
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