David Ayer’s much-anticipated Suicide Squad has finally hit theaters and looks to be on its way to a nice payday.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Still, there is a bit of a line in the sand in regards to what critics think and the opinion of general audiences towards the film, but even so, there are still a few things that both sides can agree on, and hopefully some of those are on this list.
So sit back, relax, and hit the next few slides to find out what we here at ComicBook.com loved most about Suicide Squad.
Will Smith’s Deadshot
Once the talented Mr. Smith was cast in Suicide Squad as the marksman Deadshot, you knew the character would at least be likeable, but Smith delivered a performance that was so much more than that.
Deadshot is a stone cold assassin, and the movie never lets you forget that, but it also doesn’t pass up opportunities to further develop the character’s rich history in regards to his family and daughter. Will Smith makes those small moments count, and in fact, you could really say that he shares the heart of this film with another squad member that we’ll get to later. Sure he’s not a hero, but Smith wrings every bit of empathy he can out of his moments on screen, and by movie’s end you’ll be hard-pressed not to root for him.
He delivers some of the best lines, best quips, and one of the best action sequences in the entire movie. Whether he gets his own spinoff film or not, this better not be the least we see of Will Smith in the DC Cinematic Universe. That would surely be a crime.
Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn
For as hyped as fans were to see Jared Leto’s Joker, they were even more excited to see just what Margot Robbie could do with the role of Harley Quinn, and she certainly did not disappoint.
Robbie embodies the character of Harley Quinn to a tee, from her mannerisms and Mistah J’s to her delightful interactions with her fellow squad members (especially Deadshot), there is no mistaking who this character is, regardless of what costume she wears. Oh, and kudos to Ayer and company for a fantastic nod to her comic roots. Simply perfect.
While her spunky nature is evident throughout, Ayer does allow the character to show some depth, something displayed further into the movie when the group gets together at a bar.
Viewers will also see just what Harley wants from her life in a sequence later in the film, and it reveals a great deal about the character. Robbie displays copious amounts of vulnerability, strength, and righteous anger in her performance, and it would be hard to imagine someone doing a better job in the role
The Soundtrack
A film like Suicide Squad needs a soundtrack to match its edgy imagery, and Warner Bros. delivered.
The music in Suicide Squad meshes perfectly with the at times chaotic action taking place on screen, and typically doesn’t go with the expected genre or sound for a given sequence, yet it syncs up brilliantly.
Highlights include Twenty One Pilot’s Heathens, Kehlani’s Gangsta, You Don’t Own Me from Grace and G-Eazy, and Standing In The Rain from Action Bronson, Mark Ronson, and Dan Auerbach. Even Eminem’s Without Me is placed expertly, and that doesn’t even include the use of Bohemian Rhapsody.
Rarely if ever does a soundtrack more perfectly mirror the source material, but Suicide Squad manages to achieve that in spades.
Jay Hernandez’s El Diablo
When I said that Will Smith’s Deadshot shared the heart of Suicide Squad, the other half shows up in the form of Jay Hernandez’s El Diablo.
The character could easily be written off as “the fire guy”, but he’s so much more than that, and the credit is equally shared between Hernandez’s subdued portrayal and the full backstory that he reveals over time courtesy of Director David Ayer.
It’s a character arc you’ve seen before, but Hernandez commits to it and brings an earnestness to the part that you don’t expect. On top of that, the character is responsible for one of the coolest fight sequences in the entire movie, but still, it’s his emotional baggage that makes the character work.
The Bar Scene
If there is one scene that epitomizes this group, it’s the bar scene.
While its hard to give proper context without spoiling story points, just know that at this point in the film, the team is rather dejected, and looks to some liquor to take the sting off.
This scene allows Ayer to flourish, and not jut with witty banter or comedic lines. It’s a cornucopia of well-laid character beats, with a familial back and forth between the members of the group.
Deadshot and Boomerang both have substantial pieces of dialogue in this scene, going beyond the craziness that is happening outside, and Harley, just for a moment, seems to come out of her joyful haze to show some of what lies underneath her carefree visage.
It was one of the best sequences in the film, and hopefully we’ll get to see more of this type of interaction in future projects.
