Comic book fans will flock to the theaters this weekend to see the latest from DC Comics, “Suicide Squad,” but, should they?
On this week’s “Wine & Film, A Perfect Pairing” Podcast on reVolver Podcasts, Gary and I delve into this dirty world of villains who are recruited to do good, or at least pretend to for a while. Gary’s review of the film below, and my perfect pairing, which I admit was a bit tough as it was hard to find anything worthy beyond one of our favorite cocktails.
A link to the podcast here, just click “Episode 7.” More on our thoughts below.
The Film: “Suicide Squad”
“Suicide Squad” starts out edgy and irreverent only to wimp out, sell out, and act like all the miserable others. It’s a first-half film about incarcerated super-villains forced to fight or die for the government, led by Oscar-winner Viola Davis.
She rounds them up, threatens their existence and all of a sudden you have Will Smith and Aussie actress Margo Robbie, running towards the fight to save their own skin as well as mankind. What they actually fight during the miserable second half of “Suicide Squad,” is a mash up of Ghostbusters meets The Blair Witch with an overdose of The Joker, played by another Oscar-winner, Jared Leto.
With the late Heath Ledger in mind, it’s hard to latch on to Leto’s Joker, who wears braces and runs unchecked in his sadistic affection for Robbie’s character, Harley Quinn. Having two villains in one movie is a bit ambitious considering the films multiple characters, multiple scenarios, and military style chaos.
“Suicide Squad” is directed with a heavy hand by David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch) and what frustrates me as a fan is his films inability to fulfill it’s promise of not playing safe. Once this villainous group gets into battle it falls apart and plays like all the other safe sanitized super hero movies. “Suicide Squad” would actually work if it held true to it’s inappropriate promise. How I longed for the brilliant anarchy of, “Clockwork Orange.”
As a side note, I don’t understand the fan boy push back to reviewers in advance of the film’s opening. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, everyone is a critic, but that right of opinion is only earned by actually watching the film. Whether we agree or disagree is irrelevant, it’s the dialogue that counts. The proof is always in the viewing.
The Pairing: a Dirty Martini & a loving “Love & Hope” Rose
Ingredients:1.5 oz. Tito’s Vodka
1 oz. olive brine
2 whole blue cheese stuffed olive
Method: Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker.
If I had to have a wine to pair, perhaps something loving to get all the dirtiness off of me then a new wine from Fort Worth Celebrity Chef, Tim Love and Winemaker Austin Hope, Love and Hope Rose.
The duo came together to create their ideal summertime, thirst quenching, very dry Rose wine. A wine that would represent the easy going style they both love in a classic Provence style Rose, this one from Paso Robles though. Crisp, juicy, red berry and cherry filled, a great summertime, sunshine filled wine. Available here.
Cogill Wine & Film 
Reblogged this on Red Wine with Breakfast and commented:
“Suicide Squad” made over $135 million in theaters this weekend….yet, the only thing worthy of a pairing is an extra dirty martini. This week on our @reVolveraudio podcast.
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