Army of Thieves Story :-
Zack Snyder’s zombie universe expands with “Army of Thieves,” a prequel to his earlier film “Army of the Dead,” which delves into the backstory of the intriguing character Ludwig Dieter. While the film holds promise with its premise, it falls short of expectations due to its execution and lack of depth in character development.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 29 October 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Action, Thriller, Crime |
| Duration | 2h 7min |
| Cast | Matthi, Leonard Treyde, Nathalie Emmanuel, Nandi Sawyers-Hudson, Ruby O. Fee, Violina Maria Rostami, Stuart Martin, David Dvorscík, Guz Khan, Jonathan Cohen, Jonathan Cohen, Noémie Nakai, Christian Steyer, Barbara Meier, Peter Hosking, Peter Hosking |
| Director | Matthias Schweighöfer |
| Writer | Zack Snyder, Shay Hatten |
| Cinematography | Bernhard Jasper |
| Music | Hans Zimmer, Steve Mazzaro |
| Producer | Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Wesley Coller, Dan Maag, Matthias Schweighöfer |
| Production | The Stone Quarry, Pantaleon Films |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Setting and Characters:
“Army of Thieves” follows Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert, also known as Ludwig Dieter, a safecracker leading a mundane life as a bank teller in Germany. Matthias Schweighöfer excels in portraying Sebastian’s passion for safecracking, which unexpectedly leads him to join a team of international thieves led by Gwendoline, played by Nathalie Emmanuel. The ensemble cast, including Ruby O Fee as the tech-savvy Korina, Stuart Martin as the macho Brad Cage, and Guz Khan as the skilled getaway driver Rolph, embodies the typical heist film gang, albeit lacking in depth and originality.
Plot and Execution:
The heist-thriller premise holds promise as Sebastian and his team plan to crack four complex safes known as Wagner’s Ring Cycle, crafted by the legendary locksmith Hans Wagner. However, the execution falls flat, with predictable plot points and lackluster heist sequences that fail to captivate the audience. Despite Sebastian’s supposed talent as a safecracker, the absence of significant obstacles in his path diminishes the tension and suspense, leaving viewers disengaged.
Character Dynamics:
While characters like Sebastian and Korina show potential for complexity and intrigue, they are underutilized, overshadowed by clichéd tropes and lack of depth. Nathalie Emmanuel’s portrayal of Gwendoline lacks emotional depth, failing to evoke empathy or interest in her character’s motivations. Only Matthias Schweighöfer and Ruby O Fee manage to shine through with their performances, injecting moments of humor and charm into an otherwise lackluster narrative.
Comparison to “Black Widow” and Foreshadowing:
The film draws parallels to Marvel’s “Black Widow” in its exploration of a character’s backstory following their demise in a previous film. However, unlike “Black Widow,” “Army of Thieves” fails to provide sufficient depth or relevance to justify its existence. The repeated foreshadowing of the zombie storyline from “Army of the Dead” feels forced and detracts from the narrative, leaving audiences disconnected from the characters and their journey.
Screenplay and Direction:
While Zack Snyder’s absence in screenplay writing and direction is noticeable, it is Shay Hatten’s screenplay that ultimately disappoints. The film lacks the visual flair and narrative depth of its predecessor, failing to capitalize on its potential for intrigue and excitement. As a result, “Army of Thieves” falls short of delivering a satisfying viewing experience, leaving fans disappointed and hoping for redemption in future installments.
In conclusion, “Army of Thieves” struggles to live up to the expectations set by its predecessor, offering a lackluster and uninspired addition to Zack Snyder’s zombie universe. Despite its intriguing premise and talented cast, the film fails to deliver a compelling narrative or memorable characters, ultimately leaving audiences underwhelmed and longing for a more fulfilling cinematic experience.
