Instead of Dial of Destiny, this 5th and final go round could be called Harrison Ford starring in Indy’s greatest hits! Even at 80, Ford is one of the most watchable actors to ever step in front of a camera with his hat and bullwhip. You’ll see him relive some of his greatest moments in one form or another fighting Nazis on speeding trains, foot and truck chases, spooky caves, slithering snakes, scorpions, Ancient World mumbo-jumbo and another scary sojourn to North Africa. And there are reunions with past characters along the way like John Rhys-Davies (Salah) and Karen Allen (Marion). Inespicably, Antonio Banderas shows up in the movie for about a minute as a crusty boat captain using his Puss in Boots voice. The beginning of the film takes us back to 1969 as The U.S. celebrates landing men on the Moon.
Credit Director James Mangold and his cinematographer Phedon Papamichael for creating a film that lets the audience believe Harrison Ford is actually able to remain conscious while enduring punches, jumps, falls, and bullets throughout this action adventure. As in too many recent films, they couldn’t resist putting a timeline plot device into the story. This is yet another movie in a long string using confusing time travel as it messes with the past.
The de-aging effect used on Ford in the opening scenes is quite good, effectively removing 4 decades from his face. We’re taken back to the final days of WWII when Indy faces off against the Nazis pillaging precious artifacts for the Führer. Ford gets to show off his present-day-physique baring his 80-year-old torso as he gets out of bed shirtless.
Whatever delight you get out of this film comes mainly from seeing him work. He’s great with a throwaway line and a little grin. He has a good counterpart to play against in Fleabag star, Phoebe-Waller-Bridge. This film is just as much her film as it is Ford’s. This talented actress handled some good action scenes like a pro that could qualify her for some kind of a Superhero or Mission Impossible role in the future.
Director James Mangold co-wrote the sometimes clever, but too long script with scenes so unnecessarily long, they could have been cut to whittle down the film’s run time by half an hour. He along with his team of writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and David Kopek packed all they could in this film to showcase Ford in all his glory. The script might have used Ford and Waller-Bridge’s repartee more effectively.They are both more than capable of delivering dry wit for laughs.
Ford takes a victory lap in this tale that still has him trying to track down a magical, powerful MacGuffin before it falls into the hands of the evil Nazi who aims to rule the world. Mads Mikkelsen is the epitome of the steely villain, Jürgen Volter, who bides his time over decades, just waiting for the right time and place to grab the legendary ancient Dial of Destiny. Volter even got a job working for NASA on his quest to find the all-powerful relic. Mikkelsen is so intense as an icy cold villain, his stare will give you the chills.
Phoebe-Waller-Bridge known for frank, sometimes cringe-worthy comedy plays funny, yet conniving but sometimes with a bit of humanity playing Indy’s goddaughter Helena. Her father, Professor Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) is once again Indy’s smart, nerdy, but loyal sidekick in the opening sequence. Waller-Bridge is the one charged with holding the various pieces of the sometimes thin storyline together, and she does add more than might be expected from the script.
Indiana Jones, Dr. Volter and Helena are all vying for possession of a mechanical dial called the Antikythera, that can bend time, built by the ancient Greek mathematical genius Archimedes. All have their own reasons for going after the relic with magical powers. Indy wants to preserve the valuable antiquity. For Helena it’s cold hard cash. She has a young kid with personality for a sidekick, Teddy, (Ethann Isidore) she treats like a partner. But for Dr. Volter, it’s his way to get the power he needs to re-litigate WWII and rule the world.
This is an action movie that really boils down to a constant series of overly long chases. Whether it’s with tiny 3 wheeled scooters, motorcycles or horses racing on NY Subway train tracks, barely avoiding trains coming full blast, of course. It starts exciting, then gets ridiculous and finally stretched so much that the adrenaline rush wears off way before the chase is over. Mangold adds special effects on overdrive to keep you riveted, but it gets so ridiculous it’s more groan worthy than fun, punctuated with loud sound and fury. It gets farfetched, but that is part of the Indy tradition.
But, thankfully, John Williams has composed another stirring musical tableau with generous amounts of the familiar original Indiana Jones Raiders theme to delight both long-time fans and new generations. Williams’ music always adds excitement to the most rudimentary or ridiculous action scenes.
Being the first Indy film that was not Directed by Steven Spielberg, the question becomes whether it is of the same quality as those films that came before it. Spielberg is a master at pacing, delivering intensity, adventure and emotion. Even with the surprise cameo at the end, this film does not quite meet the same standard. This cast is great, but the action scenes become so long and overplayed, they become boring. Truly a movie that needs the audience to suspend disbelief. Good seeing Ford as Indy, back in the saddle again for one more wild ride. But hoping this is it. We certainly don’t want the next one to be Indiana Jones in Assisted Living.
Walt Disney Studios/Lucas Film 2 Hours 34 Minutes PG-13
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