After the mediocrity of Thor: The Dark World, the MCU came roaring back with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I’m going to state this early, loudly and proudly: This is the best of the standalone MCU films and is one of the best comic book movies of all-time. Of the three MCU films released after The Avengers, it definitely captures the true superhero spirit the most. There is a suitable amount of action (expertly executed I might add), Captain America represents the proper image of heroism and there is much more at stake. Action works better when there are emotional stakes and the relationship between Cap and Bucky (The Winter Solider) elevates the material to a higher level. Perhaps it’s most successful feat is that, unlike some of the other Avengers-interrelated movies, this one doesn’t feel like a glorified prequel or an unnecessary adjunct. It tells its own story and you really don’t feel the absence of the rest of the team.
That’s partially because The Winter Soldier in many ways functions as a “mini Avengers.” In addition to Captain America (Chris Evans), the narrative incorporates Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). Also on hand is Samuel L. Jackson’s irrepressible Nick Fury, who has more to do here than in any of his appearances outside The Avengers. Robert Redford, who reportedly took this job for his grandchildren, provides a smooth, suave bad guy in the person of Secretary Alexander Pierce.
The first two-thirds of The Winter Soldier almost feel more like a Cold War-era espionage thriller than a superhero movie and that is a testament to what the Russo Brothers accomplish as directors. I love comic book movies that can effortlessly swing across genres and this is a prime example of that. Who says that these films only have to be defined by their comic book roots? If anything it opens up the film to a wider audience who may not be interested in this kind of thing. The transitions are seamless between the genres and it elevates the overall viewing experience.
The movie starts with a mission in which the Captain leads a S.H.I.E.L.D. team in boarding a pirated ship. The effort is successful but, when it’s revealed that the true purpose of the assault is to protect S.H.I.E.L.D. assets, not save lives, a rift develops between the Captain and the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Later, after Fury is targeted for assassination, the Captain, accompanied by Natasha and Sam, goes on the run to discover who’s behind the rot corrupting S.H.I.E.L.D. They learn that not only does it go to the very top but Secretary Pierce has his own superhuman agent, an ex-Soviet assassin codenamed The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), working for him. Having taken down Fury, The Winter Soldier targets Captain America.
The Winter Soldier is effectively paced with enough action to keep things moving but not so much that it overwhelms everything. One of the keys to the film’s efficacy is that it takes the time to develop the relationships among the four key members. Human interaction is rarely considered an important element in “standard” superhero movies. The way it’s handled in The Winter Soldier shows why it’s important. The story doesn’t become bogged down focusing on character development but it has enough to elevate the protagonists above the level of fast-moving avatars.
Speaking of action, this is some of the best of it on display. Many of the action sequences elevate the pulse and leave a lasting impact. It isn’t bogged down by quick cuts where you can’t tell what’s going on. Every nuance of the action is effectively captured on screen and since the battles are between human beings (albeit elevated by enhanced powers) and not intergalactic beings or Norse Gods, the fights feel more personal and it’s easier for the audience to engage in them.
The narrative contains its share of unpredictable elements and isn’t afraid to shake up the status quo. By the end of The Winter Soldier, events seem to be pointing more forcefully toward a Captain America 3 than Avengers 2, although there is an obligatory mid-credits sequence designed to set up Age of Ultron. Fans will argue that the natural progression would probably be to jump from this to Civil War, especially since that jump would be virtually seamless.
The most obvious asset possessed by The Winter Soldier is that it isn’t plagued by the rampant sameness that characterizes so many superhero movies. The decision to hand the reins to brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, whose resume consists primarily of TV work, is an indication that Marvel wanted to achieve a different aesthetic for The Winter Soldier. The Russos’ deftness of touch is most evident in the quieter, character-oriented scenes. The action sequences they throw at us are an added bonus and become more powerful because of the character building they accomplish during scenes of exposition.
I have stated that Chris Evans has shown the most growth as he has progressed through the films and that growth is evident here. Not only does he own the role but he embodies it. Evans has a heroic charm that is evident in every scene and is appropriately stoic. Scarlett Johansson provides the perfect counterpart. While The Avengers suggest her camaraderie with Hawkeye, I’d argue that she shares a better union with Captain America. Samuel L. Jackson brings his usual swag to the role of Nick Fury and it’s nice to see him have more to do here. Sebastian Stan has a difficult role here. He has to be emotionless and almost robot-like, which isn’t easy to portray & convey significant nuance but he handles it well. He’s imposing and a credible threat.
A lot of MCU fans believe Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the standard by which all future MCU films have been judged. I definitely think it set a new standard for the franchise and it shows just how high the films can go when put in the right hands. As a sequel, it outdoes its predecessor and as a film on its own, it stands tall amongst the pack.
