Summer Review #3 -- X-Men: First Class

There comes occasionally a film so awe-inspiring, you do not feel like watching another one for a long time afterwards, lest you should ruin the impression with an inferior work. There comes a film, every once in a while, that combines genres with utter creativity and compliments the eloquence on the page with a classy cast, infusing soul into every dialogue and imagination into every scene.

X-Men: First Class is such a film.

The story starts in 1944 Poland, where young Erik Lehnsherr (Bill Milner) displays his first feat of power, as he and his family are being dragged off to a concentration camp. At the same time, a boy named Charles Xavier (Laurence Belcher) discovers his own extraordinary abilities and makes a new friend with similar gifts. Fast forward to 1962, when Erik (Michael Fassbender) is being consumed by a desire for revenge and Charles (James McAvoy) is being recruited by CIA agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) to help the U.S. government discover the truth behind the rumor of a new breed of humans. As Erik and Charles' paths cross, new allies come into the fold, relationships become more and more complex and the U.S. finds itself on the brink of nuclear war, a situation that an old enemy seeks to exploit for their own gain...

The screenplay is ingenuously evocative, playing with revisionist history whilst introducing the various mutant characters and exploring their powers. There are some wonderful details and effects, along with sparks of humor and moments of gravitas flying about. The context of the Cuban missile crisis serves as the perfect prism through which to depict the film's two main topics -- the brewing war between the human and emerging mutant population and the progressing rift between Charles and Erik, two people whose initial goals might be similar, but whose philosophical viewpoints differ sharply from the beginning. Director Matthew Vaughn proves that he can effortlessly carry a work of this scope and not lose the narrative to CGI, shootouts and similar genre elements, that often end up as gimmicks in the hands of lesser filmmakers. In fact, throughout First Class, there are no purposeless characters that are present for the sake of a cool trailer, no unnecessary action scenes for the sake of imagery and no forced romantic liaisons for the sake of attracting a certain demographic. The writing is poignantly perceptive, building the tension within the underlying conflicts, crafting the relationships in a sophisticated way and adding the twists, turns and devices as is appropriate.

The cast is, for lack of a better word, incredible. McAvoy has charm to spare as Charles and Byrne imbues Moira with multidimensional passion and wisdom. Their subtle chemistry is fun, sexy and never schmaltzy. Jennifer Lawrence gives anguished humanity to Raven, bringing each nuance of vulnerability to a boiling point. Kevin Bacon is appropriately sadistic as the mad and madly swaggering scientist Sebastian Shaw and January Jones is a literal picture of coolness as Emma Frost, his unbreakable sidekick. Zoë Kravitz is a no-nonsense tough girl as flying mutant Angel Salvadore and About a Boy's Nicholas Hoult is brilliantly awkward as Dr. Hank McCoy, affectionately named Beast. However, the absolute knockout among the cast is Michael Fassbender. His Erik Lehnsherr is a man on a mission, an outsider whose existence has been etched out by pain and anger, and who slowly and surely embraces his metal-bending alter ego. He is utterly incapable of seeing the bigger picture when it comes to a harmonious society, simply because he has witnessed firsthand the dark side of humankind early on in life, and Fassbender conveys his torment in a feverish yet refined manner. It is impossible to take your eyes off of him; his regal ruthlessness is charisma itself and his intensity takes over every scene he is in. This man is an actor with a capital A and, while he should already have become a star after his harrowing performance in 2008's Hunger, this film is definitely going to be the one that propels him into the leading man stratosphere.

X-Men: First Class is a literate and innovative adaptation, portraying the origins of beloved characters through a unique perspective. Fans and novices alike will enjoy it, simply because the film sets the standard for all origin stories and storytelling in general. You are about to be enthralled by cinema at its finest.

10/10