Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

/ Benn Bell

Movie Review

Birds od Prey poster

Birds of Prey (2020)

Directed by: Cathy Yan

Starring: Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as the Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as The Black Canary, Ella Jay Basco as Cass,  and rounding out the cast, Ewan McGregor as the Black Mask.

Some of you might be surprised that I went to see this movie. To be honest I am a little surprised myself.  First of all, I am not a big fan of Marvel movies. I agree with Martin Scorsese that Marvel movies aren’t really cinema. I know, this is a DC Comics picture. DC Comics, Marvel Comics, the same thing. So, what possessed me on a bright, sunny, Sunday afternoon to enter a dark cavern in a multiplex and witness mayhem at its finest? Margot Robbie, that’s what. Plus, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from right now and I have actually heard good things about this movie. So, I hustled there inside, and friends, I am here to tell you I am glad I did!

Harley Quinn

Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

I don’t know much about the source material because I stopped reading comics when I was 12, but this movie has legs and stands on its own.

This is 109 minutes of pure entertainment! A tip of the hat to Quentin Tarantino for some of the action scenes sure looked familiar. If you are going to steal, steal from the best, I always say! Also, there were some memorable dialog, lines, cultural references, and T-Shirts, such as:

“You make me want to be less of a terrible person,” spoken by One Harley Quinn.

She has the word “Rotten” tattooed on her right cheek, and she sports at times a T-shirt that says, “Daddy’s Little Monster.”

At one point she refers to a character as “You Frida Kahlo looking mother fucker!”

Rose Perez sports a T-shirt that says, “I shaved my balls for this.”

And at the end Harley Quinn reveals her new calling cards: “Harley Quinn and Associates – Bad Ass Motherfuckers!”

Black Canary

Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Margot Robbie in Birds of Prey

Written and directed by women, with strong female leads, this movie is a towering monument to female empowerment.  Lot’s a diversity on display here too. Visually stunning, Gotham City never looked better as photographed by lensman Mathew Libatique. Add a killer sound track that perfectly matches the action and you have  movie that is solid entertainment and a lot of fun. Two thumbs way up!

18 thoughts on “Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)”

  1. I’ve been seeing previews of it and thought it looked good, but there is always the chance you’re seeing the only good bits in it. I feel about Marvel (and DC) the way you (and Scorcese) do also, but Margot is a serious draw. Have you seen her in “I, Tonya”? She’s brilliant in it. Based on your rating, I’ll be sure to see Birds of Prey.

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  2. I enjoyed your review but just am not tempted, I will share your review notes with my son as he likes the Tarantino movies more than I. I would like to see your review of a movie Emma I saw advertised.

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  3. I haven’t gone to see Birds Of Prey. But I love movie soundtracks and I’m definitely interested in buying the BOP soundtrack. Is it true that the entire playlist is composed of songs by women music artists? I think that’s so cool.

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  4. Check out the full Birds of Prey soundtrack listing

    Doja Cat – “Boss Bitch”
    Whipped Cream (feat. Baby Goth) – “So Thick”
    Megan Thee Stallion & Normani – “Diamonds”
    Saweetie & Galxara – “Sway With Me”
    Charlotte Lawrence – “Joke’s On You”
    Maisie Peters – “Smile”
    Cyn – “Lonely Gun”
    Halsey – “Experiment On Me”
    Jucee Froot – “Danger”
    K.Flay – “Bad Memory”
    Sofi Tukker – “Feeling Good”
    Lauren Jauregui – “Invisible Chains”
    Black Canary – “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”
    Summer Walker – “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby”
    Adona – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”

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  5. Quite a positive experience then! I actually quite liked the first one despite it getting some pretty harsh criticism and negative reviews. I wouldn’t mind seeing this, so I’ll make a note for when it’s on DVD/Netflix or similar. xx

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  10. Pingback: Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020) — Ghost Dog | FAN FICTION Film and Writing Festival

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