In a world filled with distractions, the key to a successful streaming movie lies in its ability to be repetitive. This principle is highlighted in the new film “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” where a band of rogues led by Gus March-Phillipps (played by Henry Cavill) must follow a repetitive screenplay to carry out their mission.
Adapted from the nonfiction book of the same name by Damien Lewis, the film follows the team as they work to disrupt supply lines to U-boats during World War II. The screenplay follows the time-honored principle of telling the audience what they’re going to tell them, then telling them, and finally telling them what they told them.
The film features a star-studded cast including Henry Golding, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Alex Pettyfer, Alan Ritchson, Eiza González, and Babs Olusanmokun. As the team navigates through their mission, they find themselves constantly reiterating their plans and objectives, ensuring that the audience is kept in the loop.
Despite the high stakes of World War II, the film takes a lighthearted approach to the conversation surrounding the conflict. Characters express their hatred for the Nazis, with one character even having a personal connection to the atrocities committed by the regime. However, the film humorously suggests that the worst outcome of a German victory would be having to eat sausages, cabbage, and brown bread forever.
“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is a thrilling and engaging film that showcases the importance of repetition in storytelling. As the characters navigate through their mission, they must constantly reiterate their plans, ensuring that the audience is fully engaged and informed.
