Captain America: Civil War - A Viewing Guide

Since Captain America: Civil War's opening in 15 countries on April 27th, fans and critics haven’t stopped raving about it. By May 10th, the film had grossed $737.8 million, surpassing the entire theatrical gross of its predecessor, Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714.4 million). It is currently the second-highest grossing film of 2016. I thought it would be pretty cool to create a viewing guide for our most loved Marvel heroes, if you feel I’ve missed a film out or have any other recommendations leave a comment!

Chris Evans (Steve Rogers / Captain America) - Snowpiercer (2013)

Snowpiercer is an English-language South Korean sci-fi action film based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige. The movie takes place on the globe-spanning Snowpiercer train which holds the last remnants of humanity after an attempt at climate engineering in order to stop global warming has unintentionally created a new ice age. Unfortunately Bong Joon-ho’s grungy, far-out sci-fi dystopian, it proved too complicated a proposition for UK distributors and never saw cinemas in the UK. It’s a real shame as this proved a great vehicle for Evans. It would have been easy to pass up the job, given his stature as Cap but the risk he took truly paid off. The film received universal acclaim and Evans brings ruthless charisma to a warrior battling his way through the film and he most certainly holds his own alongside Tilda Swinton and John Hurt.

Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier) - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Quite possibly the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far (aside from Civil War), Captain America: The Winter Soldier was the first Marvel film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. As Cap, Black Widow and Falcon join forces to uncover a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D they face off against a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Solider, who we find out is actually Bucky. The Winter Soldier was full of suspense and politically astute and tied up a few loose ends left by its predecessor. What they did so well was deliver all the action and mayhem commonly found in the superhero genre along with a dark, mysterious undertone. We see much more character exploration in Captain America: Civil War but the preview we get of the new Bucky is rather surprising. You feel a pure sense of disbelief when Cap realises who the Winter Soldier really is and for a character who is essentially a masked killer, you do feel empathy and quite a few emotions towards him.

Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Falcon) - The Hurt Locker (2008)

For me, The Hurt Locker was a near-perfect movie. Aside from the brilliant directing by Kathryn Bigelow, which subsequently earned her an Academy Award for both Best Picture and Best Director (the only film by a female director to win either), the acting was nothing short of brilliant. The film was about about an Iraq War Explosive Ordnance Disposal team who are being targeted by insurgents with booby traps, remote control detonations and ambushes. Starring alongside fellow Avenger Jeremy Renner and Brian Geraghty, Anthony Mackie stars as Sergeant J. T. Sanborn. When the film was released, many said that the profiles of Mackie, along with his other actors would raise a considerable amount and that they did. Although Renner gets much praise for his leading role, it would not be the same without the support of some brilliant acting by Mackie, his character revealed the “unlooked-for aspects” and I found the performance completely compelling.

Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton / Hawkeye) - The Town (2010)

Two years after his phenomenal performance in The Hurt Locker, Jeremy Renner starred in the brutal crime drama The Town. Directed, co-written and starring Ben Affleck, it was adapted from Chuck Hogan’s novel Prince of Thieves. The film received largely positive reviews with most praise going to the action sequences, Affleck’s direction and Renner’s performance. Both the direction and the performances make this film stand out from the other crime dramas and showed that both Affleck and Renner are forces to be reckoned with in both directing and acting. Renner plays the intriguing Jem, he's a twisted confusion of behavior and a loose cannon on a team that requires discipline. After seeing Renner in previous work such as The Hurt Locker you’ll need to look twice to recognize him, his ability to switch from war hero to hard-hitting villain was incredible to see and it is no wonder he was nominated for an Academy Award in both.

Elizabeth Olson (Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch) - Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Martha Marcy May Marlene is a thriller drama that focuses on a young woman suffering from delusions and paranoia after returning to her family from an abusive cult in the Catskill Mountains. Olsen role as the titular character Martha saw her nominated for and win numerous critics awards, which is rather impressive on her breakout role. The film and Olsen’s performance were both met with critical acclaim with one critic noting “Martha Marcy May Marlene is a distinctive, haunting psychological drama led by a mesmerizing debut performance from Elizabeth Olsen.” As the title character, Olsen has a wide range of emotions to deal with and she seems to instinctively know just how to deal with it all. Elizabeth Olsen has gone on to star in films such as Silent House, Liberal Arts and Godzilla, but her role in this is where she became a genuine discovery.

Paul Rudd (Scott Lang / Ant-Man) - Role Models (2008)

Now Paul Rudd is without doubt one of the most recognisable comedy actors around so when he was cast as the lead role, Scott Lang in Marvel’s Ant-Man many were surprised. However, he turned out to be the perfect fit and brings even more to the table as he reprises his role in Civil War. I could pick a handful of movies to recommend starring Rudd but for me, one of my favourites has to be Role Models. The film stars Rudd alongside Seann William Scott as two energy drink salesman who are ordered to perform 150 hours of community service as part of a role model program for kids, as punishment for their various offenses. Role Models is frequently crude and funny throughout whilst both Scott and Rudd give solid performances.

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark / Iron Man) - Chaplin (1992)

Five years after Less Than Zero brought Downey Jr.’s skittish charisma to Hollywood’s attention, Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin gave him an even bigger breakthrough. RDJ’s commitment to the role, from learning to play tennis left-handed to mastering the violin, pays off onscreen. Although the film was criticized for taking dramatic license with some aspects of Chaplin’s life, RDJ’s performance earned universal acclaim. Although studio executives wanted Robin Williams or Billy Crystal for the role, I’m not sure they could have brought that little bit extra to the role that came through Downy Jr.’s commitment. The film does have some faults but the actor can hardly be blamed. Robert Downey Jr.’s charisma, commitment and determination, that is still very much visible today was enough to see him handed an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a BAFTA win in the same category.

Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow) - Lost In Translation (2003)

Now Her is possibly one of my favourite films of all time and it’s hard to think of a bad film that Scarlett Johansson has been in. One of the films that stands out and a film everyone must see is Lost In Translation.  A romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation stars Bill Murray as aging actor Bob Harris, who befriends college graduate Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) in a Tokyo Hotel. Sofia Coppola managed to effectively balance humour and subtle pathos whilst crafting a moving, melancholy story that serves as a showcase for both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett Johansson performs her role with such simplicity and curiosity it is lovely to watch and the fact she won a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Leading Role cannot be questioned.

Don Cheadle (James Rhodes / War Machine) - House of Lies (2012 - Present)

Don Cheadle has come in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe replacing Terence Howard as James Rhodes, and he has been the ideal fit. Unlike the other actors under focus in this feature, for Don Cheadle, I would recommend the TV series House of Lies as some of his best work. House of Lies is a comedy series that follows a group of management consultants who stop at nothing to get business deals done. Cheadle stars as Marty Kaan, the immoral and deceitful proprietor of consultancy firm Kaan & Associates. Like most television series, House of Lies has received mixed reviews. Cheadle’s performance has been hailed as exceedingly charming in its own way with a real devilish aspect to his image. One thing I loved about the show was Cheadle’s character stepping out of a freeze-frame to break the fourth wall and deliver scathing stylized titbits to the audience. It comes as no shock that Cheadle has won a Golden Globe for his performance.           

Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa / Black Panther) - 42 (2013) and Get On Up (2014)

Chadwick Boseman has to be one of my favourite actors around at the moment. His addition to Civil War as Black Panther was brilliant and I cannot put into words how excited I am for his solo movie. It is an almost impossible task to pick one film to recommend so I had to choose two. If you want to see Boseman at his very best then both 42 and Get On Up are must-sees. 42 is a biographical sports film about the racial integration of American professional baseball by player Jackie Robinson. 42 is an inspirational and respectfully told biography of an American sports icon, but it is perhaps played a little to safe for some. That cannot be pinned on Boseman who takes the lead and delivers an earnest, compelling and an altogether uplifting performance. My second recommendation, Get On Up is a biographical drama about the life of singer James Brown, with Boseman taking the lead as the singer. The film was met with a lot of positivity and acclaim, mainly towards Boseman who gives nothing short of an incredible performance as the soul singer. Boseman is unforgettable in the role and I’m sure the majority will agree and the film offers the Godfather of Soul a fittingly dynamic homage.

Paul Bettany (Vision) - Wimbledon (2004)

Now personally I don’t like the character of Vision that much, but I do however like Paul Bettany and for me, although he really stood out in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, I’m going to recommend Wimbledon. Now some may laugh but Wimbledon is an easy watch and is actually rather good. The film centres on a washed-up tennis pro played by Bettany and an up-and-coming tennis star played by Kirsten Dunst, during the Wimbledon Championships. Yes, it might not be a blockbuster or critically acclaimed text but it is much more than a conventional romantic story. The dialogue is cleverer than your average dialogue and the subsidiary characters are very sharply drawn, especially the beyond hilarious James McAvoy, who plays Bettany’s brother. I think the think that draws people to it the most, and one what I in my opinion one of the most important things in film is the on screen chemistry between actors. Bettany is charming and thankfully the chemistry between him and Dunst is visible and they are very appealing together.

Tom Holland (Peter Parker / Spider-Man) - The Impossible (2012)

If you were lucky enough to see Billy Elliot on stage then you’ll realise just how talented this young man is and why there is so much buzz around him. His appearance as the web-slinger has already seen him noted as the best Spider-Man there’s been and if Homecoming is as good as everyone hopes he’ll cement his place as that for sure. The film I’d recommend would be The Impossible, the film is based on the experience of the Belón family in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The direction of the film was pretty much brilliant and the acting followed suit. One would assume that with the lead roles being filled by the likes of Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, a young supporting actor would be overshadow and not mentioned at all. That couldn’t be further from the truth in this movie. Tom Holland is excellent as Lucas, and whilst Watts portrays the mother as both brave and vulnerable, her scenes with Holland are among the best in the film. The adult and child are now unexpected equals as the mother is humbled and the son must rise to the challenge. It is clear to see that the characters are just now equal, but the actors themselves are too. Tom Holland is sure to be one of the best actors of the next decade and I cannot wait to see what is in store for him.