History Film / TheManFromUNCLE2015

Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s period of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar and centering around respective CIA and KGB agents; Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. The two are forced to team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization led by Victoria Vinciguerra, which is bent on destabilizing the fragile balance of power through the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is Gaby Teller, the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization, and they must race against time utilizing her connections and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

* CoitusEnsues: [[spoiler: Victoria races to the Plaza Hotel in the middle of the night to expose Solo as a spy, but he manages to get there before her. Solo, still trying to play it cool, seduces her. She responds [[TheImmodestOrgasm enthusiastically]].]]

* GunsOfFiction: Take a close look at the firearm Illya's carrying during the penultimate chase scene (the one with the all-terrain vehicles, where Illya is on a cycle). That's the iconic U.N.C.L.E. Special assembled into carbine form, complete with sniperscope and shoulder stock. [[spoiler:It's implied in the end-credits imagery that Waverly designed the weapon.]] Solo also uses it during the island raid.

* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Alexander Vinciguerra. The CIA and KGB even note early on that he's really just a playboy and that Victoria is the real brains and power behind both the Vinciguerra businesses and their scheme. However, he's still TheDragon, and quite formidable as both a BadassDriver and able to match the two lead agents in combat.

* WhamLine: [[spoiler: Quoth Gaby -- "[[HeelFaceTurn Because my fiancé is a KGB agent, and the man your wife has been entertaining works for the CIA]]...[[LoveInterestTraitor They thought they were using me but I was using them to get to you.]]"]]

* BattleInTheRain: The final fight with Alexander is set during a rainstorm.

* CoolGuns: Take a close look at the firearm Illya's carrying during the penultimate chase scene (the one with the all-terrain vehicles, where Illya is on a cycle). That's the iconic U.N.C.L.E. Special assembled into carbine form, complete with sniperscope and shoulder stock. [[spoiler:It's implied in the end-credits imagery that Waverly designed the weapon.]] Solo also uses it during the island raid.

* FriendlyEnemy: {{Subverted}} with Solo and Kurayakin's bosses. While Solo and Kuryakin bicker and fight, their bosses are rather civil and cooperative to each other, even heartily shaking hands. Of course, they're more than willing to immediately backstab the other when the mission looks like it's succeeding, but for now it's all polite.

* FriendlyEnemy: While Solo and Kuryakin bicker and fight, their bosses are rather civil and cooperative to each other, even heartily shaking hands. They're more than willing to backstab the other when the task is done, but for now it's all polite.

%%* BondOneLiner: An indirect version. "Huh. He fixed the glitch."

* CoitusEnsues: [[spoiler: Victoria races to the Plaza Hotel in the middle of the night to expose Solo as a spy, but he manages to just beat her. Solo, still trying to play it cool, seduces her. She responds [[TheImmodestOrgasm enthusiastically]].]]

* [[UsefulNotes/FascistItaly Fascist Italians]]: The villains are a family of Mussolini supporters, and their allies.

* BadassDriver: Kuryakin, Gabi, and Alexander Vinciguerra all set their skills up pretty early on. Solo gets into the mix in the final chase scene.

* BigBad: Victoria Vinciguerra, leader of a terrorist organization in possession of a nuclear weapon, is the woman all three leads are trying to stop.

%%* CityOfSpies: Berlin, which is TruthInTelevision. The ending points to another city that's also a TruthInTelevision example, [[spoiler: Istanbul]].

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The hotel room argument between Illya and Gaby has one line that wouldn't have made the cut if this took place in modern day, unless he was joking.

%%* HuskyRusskie. Kuryakin is a large, large man.

%%* ImprobableAimingSkills: Solo and Kuryakin both demonstrate this in their opening confrontation.

* ShesGotLegs: Gaby. When trying to fix a tracker on her leg garter, Illya fumbles and comments that he's "trying not to get lost."

->'''Illya Kuryakin:''' I was briefed on your criminal career. Your balls are on the end of a very long leash, held by a very short man.
->'''Napoleon Solo:''' I wonder if it was your father's shame that gave you such drive... Or was it your mother's reputation? I understand that she was extremely popular amongst your father's friends...

* AllGermansAreNazis: Played straight for Uncle Rudi, but subverted for Gaby and Gaby's father, who was forced to work for the Nazis.

* AlmostKiss: Happens ''[[RuleOfThrees three times]]'' to Gaby and Kuryakin. It's almost a running gag.

* BadassBaritone: Solo and Kuryakin, played by Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer.

* BattleInTheRain: The final fight with Alexander.

* BigBad: Victoria Vinciguerra, leader of a terrorist organization in possession of a nuclear weapon.

* BondOneLiner: An indirect version. "Huh. He fixed the glitch."

* CallingTheCopsOnTheFBI: Calling the Polizei on the KGB.
* CarFu: See ImprovisedWeapon.

** A WhatCouldHaveBeen variation. Creator/JonHamm was one of the actors considered for Solo; had he been cast, we could’ve seen [[Series/MadMen Don Draper taking orders from Lane Pryce]].

** The "glitch" in [[spoiler: Rudi's]] torture device.
** Gaby's [[spoiler: second engagement ring.]]

* CheckpointCharlie: We're introduced to Solo as he passes through the TropeNamer, and he has to take Gaby over the Berlin Wall when his cover is blown shortly after.
* CityOfSpies: Berlin, which is TruthInTelevision. The ending points to another city that's also a TruthInTelevision example, [[spoiler: Istanbul]].

* CoolCars: Played straight - when Napoleon pulls away a car cover to find a small dune-buggy-thing, he seems to disprove and moves onto another covered vehicle hoping it'd be more his style. That one turns out to be an even larger, more powerful version of the dune-buggy-thing, which he goes with.
** For more information on the dune buggy, the production crew dubbed it "The Rock Crawler." [[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-15/the-man-from-u-n-c-l-e-the-clothes-the-cars-and-locations-explained Seven feet wide, four wheel drive, all terrain vehicle in every sense of the word]] (He uses it on flat land, ''uphill'' through slippery mud, over broken trees, and even ''hydroplanes it through a river.'')
** Subverted in the opening chase scene using a (anachronistic) Trabant 601 and Wartburg 1000, both decidedly [[TheAllegedCar not cool cars in reputation]].

* ComplexityAddiction: A mild case with Solo.

* TheDragon: Alexander Vinciguerra, Victoria's husband.
* DuelOfSeduction: Napoleon and Victoria.

* EpicFail: Illya's attempt to discuss Italian architecture with Gaby.

* FakeDefector: [[spoiler: Gaby.]]

* TheFilmOfTheSeries: And an origin story to boot.

-->'''Kuryakin:''' Huh. [[BondOneLiner He fixed the glitch.]]
-->'''Solo:''' Damn. [[SkewedPriorities I left my jacket in there.]]

* GentlemanThief: Solo's life before joining the CIA. And his cover in Italy.

* HeartbrokenBadass: Illya, after it appears that Gaby has betrayed them.
* HiddenDepths: Early on, Illya demonstrates a refined knowledge of haute couture in the scene in the Berlin shop where he and Napoleon are bickering over how Gaby should be dressed. (This bit might also be seen as a MythologyGag to the 1983 TV movie, "The Fifteen Years Later", where Illya is described as having taken up high-fashion design after leaving U.N.C.L.E.). He's also a chess master, photographer, powerboater and wrestling champion.
** In fact, beneath their respective brute and charmer presentations, both leads have hidden depths. Kuryakin is noticeably Adorkable (in his hobbies and interactions with Gaby), while Solo's a bit of a SmugSnake (making overconfident comments about the alarm, being particularly snippy to Illya about fashion and Soviet matters, which he clearly wouldn't know about as an outsider, as well as being a [[WhatYouAreInTheDark Jerk with a very well hidden heart of gold]]).
* HighDiveEscape: Parodied when our heroes go crashing into the dock short of the water.

* HuskyRusskie. Kuryakin is a large, large man.

* ImprobableAimingSkills: Solo and Kuryakin both demonstrate this in their opening confrontation.

-->'''Solo:''' Absolutely hated working with you, Peril.
-->'''Kuryakin:''' You're a terrible spy, Cowboy.

-->"''What'' was waiting for me was barely human. You should have seen it run."
--> "I don't think you understand: it tore the back off my CAR."

* LadyDrunk: Gaby.
* LaserCutter: Illya's [=CO2=] laser.

* LoveInterestTraitor: Subverted with [[spoiler: Gaby. We're hit with this later in the film, and while it appears at first that she really is in league with the BigBad, this is actually just a ploy set up by Waverly, her boss]].
** It doesn't stop Illya from appearing absolutely heartbroken, however. See HeartbrokenBadass above.
* LoveTriangle: Averted. You could be forgiven for expecting this from a movie of this genre, but Solo and Gaby never show any romantic interest towards each other (with Solo even enjoying playing ShipperOnDeck between Gaby and Illya).

* MadScientist: Uncle Rudi.

* MementoMacGuffin: [[spoiler: Illya's father's watch.]]
* MenOfSherwood: The Royal Marines certainly qualify. In the StormingTheCastle scene, they [[CurbStompBattle easily defeat]] Vinciguerra's guards while taking zero losses themselves. (At least on screen)

** Kuryakin's fashion knowledge references his retirement occupation from the reunion films.
*** Illya's insistence on dressing Gaby for their undercover mission is possibly a nod to the 1983 movie [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086191/ The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair]], in which Illya has quit U.N.C.L.E. to become a successful fashion designer.
-->'''Kuryakin:''' Soviet architect travelling to Rome would never dress his woman in the clothes you tried to put her in. You tried to dress her like someone on your side thinks someone dress behind the Iron Curtain.
-->'''Solo:''' She is from behind the Iron Curtain.
-->'''Kuryakin:''' That doesn't mean she wants to bring it with her. [To the boutique assistants:] We need two purses please, an everyday clutch and... grab that belt -- no, not the Dior, the Rabanne.
-->'''Solo:''' You can't put a Paco Rabanne belt on a Patou.
-->'''Kuryakin:''' She's not going to wear a Patou.
-->'''Solo:''' What's wrong with the Patou?
-->'''Kuryakin:''' Nothing, if you're fat. The Dior goes with the Rabanne.
-->'''Solo:''' It won't match.
-->'''Kuryakin:''' It. Doesn't. Have. To. Match.

* OvertAgent: Kuryakin is introduced quite noticeably watching Solo. [[spoiler: It's a set up so while Solo is distracted, the border guard can plant a tracer on his luggage.]]

-->'''Illya, when Napoleon approaches him and Gaby at the Spanish Steps''': You're not supposed to make contact in public!
-->'''Illya, when Napoleon knocks on his hotel room door''': What are you doing?! You're not supposed to be here!

* {{Reconstruction}}: Of '60s spy-fi. With spy fiction in general taking a deconstruction-heavy turn since the start of the 21st century in part thanks to the [[Film/TheBourneIdentity Bourne films]] and most adaptations of '60s spy shows (i.e. I Spy, the 1998 Avengers film) played for self-parody and comedy, this averts that. The seriousness of the Cold War is played straight (with the CIA and KGB presented in a very Stale Beer nature), the threat of post-war WesternTerrorists treated seriously (with the gadgets and henchmen justified due to their wealth), and simple gadgets, but also showing how more Martini-flavored agents work in the Cold War, and how they're best equipped to deal with the most dangerous threats. Yes, they're a BoxedCrook and soldier-turned-spy with a dark past, but because they're the best in their agencies, they have numerous talents and HiddenDepths, elevating them beyond simple plants in a city or intel gatherers.
** Even the cinematography and subtitles mimic the look of '60s spy films.

* TrackingDevice: A ChekhovsGun played for RuleOfThrees.
* TuxedoAndMartini: Napoleon Solo is a [[SpyFiction Martini-Flavoured]] type of spy; unsurprisingly, since he was written by Ian Fleming and first appeared as a minor character in James Bond.

* UnresolvedSexualTension: Illya and Gaby, in spades...see the AlmostKiss entry up above.

-->'''Gaby''': Why don't you take a shot at him?
-->'''Solo''': Somehow, it just doesn't seem like the right thing to do.
* WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied: A rare good guy version, albeit for pragmatic reasons.

* SharpDressedMan: Napoleon is almost always beautifully dressed in elegant, bespoke three-piece suits, except when he's wearing the appropriate gear for infiltrating or assaulting an enemy stronghold - and he looks really good in those outfits, too. Illya, as befits a proper Soviet secret agent, dresses in a more "proletarian" manner, but his clothes are well-fitting and well-tailored; on one occasion, he rocks the black turtleneck sweater that was so indelibly associated with the character in the original show. Both men have a keen sense of women's fashion as well, as demonstrated in the Berlin haute-couture shop scene.

* SplitScreen: Most crucially in the StormingTheCastle scene, enabling the focus to remain on the subsequent ChaseScene between our heroes and the villain.

* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: When Illya and Napoleon finally see [[spoiler: Uncle Rudi on fire from his own torture device]] they're rather blasé. Solo's only expression of annoyance is that he left his suit jacket in the room.

* NotSoDifferent: Although Solo and Kuryakin are quite different, as shown by their HiddenDepths, they're both motivated by a deep sense of pride to prove themselves better than their bosses expect them to be. Also TheSpymaster bosses are all MagnificentBastard types, regardless of which side they're working for.

* MoodWhiplash: The film briefly takes a sudden and extreme turn for the dark as [[NightmareFuel Uncle Rudi reveals the truth about his rise to power under the Nazi machine]], explaining exactly what is to happen to Solo. Then [[HopeSpot Kuriyakin rescues Solo]], [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments they debate what to do with Rudi]]... and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard Rudi's chair]] [[BloodyHilarious settles the debate.]]

* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Gaby asks this when Kuryakin is grappling with the back of their vehicle. Despite the opportunity, Solo is so bemused and impressed with his pursuer's determination he's unable to bring himself to do so.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** Napoleon isn't happy about [[HomoeroticSubtext entering a public toilet with his boss]] (he's even less happy when he runs into Kuryakin there). The movie even throws in a fairly explicit joke about the situation.
-->'''Napoleon:''' Is there a point to this or are you just looking?
** Napoleon makes a snarky comment about [[ADateWithRosiePalms how long Kuryakin has been in the toilet]]. Turns out he's using it as a darkroom.
** From the perspective of a hotel maid, the sound of Gaby and Kuryakin wrestling sounds like DestructoNookie.

* YourCheatingHeart: Played with. [[spoiler: Victoria sleeps ([[TheImmodestOrgasm quite enthusiastically]]) with Solo, and Alexander tries to seduce Gaby (much to Illya's chagrin), but they're working together and remain fond of one another. Victoria is upset when Solo says that Alexander died like a coward.]]

* {{Ruritania}}: Subverted. East Berlin is run down, and Solo pokes fun at the Soviets/Eastern Bloc...and yet the Soviet technology is repeatedly shown to be better than all of the American gadgets Solo produces.

* RedOniBlueOni: Napoleon Solo is the Blue Oni (a suave and analytical CIA operative) and Illya Kuryakin is the Red Oni (a hot-blooded KGB agent who often seems to be only just keeping his emotions in check). This is an inversion of the more stereotypical characterizations in the [[Series/TheManFromUNCLE original series]], where Napoleon is the comparatively cheerful and easygoing American and Illya is a the coolly intellectual Russian.

** When the two make their move on the Vinciguerra estate, Napoleon's job is to dress to the nines and engage in conversation with the gorgeous Victoria, while Illya's part of the assignment is to hide in the woods with a tracker and listening devices. This is very similar to multiple occasions on the television series, where Napoleon's natural charm and charisma sent him into black tie operations that usually involved alcohol and entertaining women, while Illya's stealth and hardiness sent him into caves and trees and often had him creeping around in the dark.

** Played with in Solo's case, who travels around Rome on a Vespa.
* BadassBoast: During the boat chase, Kuryakin tells Solo to "Watch me work, Cowboy!"
** Played with, since [[spoiler: Solo is the one who eventually rescues Ilya. Although the heavily armed security boat eventually blows up Kuryakin's speed boat, Illya manages to lead them on a merry chase for many minutes.]]

* ChekhovsGun: Early on, Illya, while out with Gaby, has his most precious possession, his father's watch, stolen by goons working for the Vinceguerra operation (nearly causing his BerserkButton to be jammed down). [[spoiler:Napoleon recovers the watch later on and gives it back to Illya at a crucial moment near the end of the film, completely defusing what could have been a bloody showdown and starting a beautiful friendship instead.]] Also, the tracking device that was put in Victoria's second, non-nuclear warhead [[spoiler:is later placed into the missile that's used to destroy Victoria's boat - ''and'' the nuclear warhead that she's about to deliver to the Nazi submarine.]]

* CoolGuns: Take a close look at the firearm Illya's carrying during the penultimate chase scene (the one with the all-terrain vehicles, where Illya is on a cycle). That's the iconic U.N.C.L.E. Special assembled into carbine form, complete with sniperscope and shoulder stock. [[spoiler:It's implied in the end-credits imagery that Waverly designed the weapon.]]
** Solo also uses it during the island raid.

* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: [[spoiler: Gaby convinces Illya to dance with her, then slaps Illya twice and attacks him with no provocation or justification whatsoever.]] The entire scene is [[PlayedForLaughs played as hilarious and charming]]. [[spoiler: It should be noted that Gaby was very drunk during this scene, and she might not have done that if she were sober. But it only makes things worse as the romantic undertones of their relationship paints a disturbing image of domestic abuse.]]
** Added bonus that this scene takes place immediately after [[spoiler: Illya is humiliated by muggers who also slapped him.]]

* EarlyBirdCameo: Waverly shows up in the first scene at the Plaza, while Solo's more concerned with the henchmen in the lobby, before making his first proper scene at the Vinciguerra party.

* FreezeFrameBonus: The credits, before showing scenes from the adventure in Istanbul, show the four lead's dossiers. [[spoiler: Waverly is a recovering alcoholic and opium addict; Solo has "serial womanizer" listed for a '''psychological problem'''; Kuryakin is noted to have an Oedipus Complex, and Gaby is currently [[ShipTease learning Russian]].]]

** Napoleon's CIA handler and Illya's KGB handler are even on first name basis with each other. It actually wasn't uncommon for Cold War spies to know and even socialise with their opposite number, making this [[TruthInTelevision Truth In Television]].

-->'''Solo:''' Damn. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint I left my jacket in there.]]

* InevitableMutualBetrayal: An American and a Russian are working together to take down a third party and recover information which could give whoever has it the edge over pretty much anyone else. Given relations between the Soviets and American at the time, you know it's going to come down to this, [[spoiler:even before they're both ordered to take the other out to get it if necessary. Ultimately the U.N.C.L.E. team is put together before they can act on it.]]
** [[spoiler: [[DefiedTrope Subverted]] by ThePowerOfFriendship.]]

* PubliclyDiscussingTheSecret: Subverted; the KGB and CIA spymasters are briefing the protagonists in a cafe, announce they're going to [[HeadbuttingHeroes leave them alone to get acquainted]], and get up to leave...along with everyone else in the cafe, as all the other customers are their agents.

* PunnyName: Uncle Rudi is a... [[{{Understatement}} rude person.]]
* RealityEnsues:
** During the boat chase, not being strapped in will make you fall out of the boat during a sharp, high-speed turn.
** A company buys a safe that has no alarm? They'll modify it so that it does. Not doing so would be too risky, especially for an illegal weapons-making company.
-->'''Illya''': Loving your work, cowboy.
** Solo and Kuryakin debate what to do with [[spoiler: [[TheMengele Uncle Rudi]], knowing that he's dangerous to leave alive, but that the U.S. would be very interested in his services. They both bitterly note that if they turn him over alive, [[TruthInTelevision he'll likely be handsomely rewarded, with his atrocities forgiven]]. The debate is rendered moot when the finicky electric chair they left him strapped in starts working again.]]
-->'''Illya''': Huh. He fixed the glitch.
** Solo drinks a drugged drink, and after a few minutes begins feeling the effects. He understand at this point the drug is so far into his system that any struggling is completely pointless, so he just lies down on the sofa to avoid hurting himself by falling onto the stone floor- his dialogue even suggests this has happened before and he got a concussion from it.

* RedOniBlueOni: Napoleon Solo is the Blue Oni (a suave and analytical CIA operative) and Illya Kuryakin is the Red Oni (a hot-blooded KGB agent who often seems to be only just keeping his emotions in check). This is particularly noteworthy because it is an inversion of their Oni roles in the [[Series/TheManFromUNCLE original series on which the movie was based]] where Napoleon was the comparatively cheerful and easygoing American and Illya the coolly intellectual Russian.

* ShownTheirWork: See the entries for RealityEnsues and BasedOnATrueStory.
** Illya's dossier says he's proficient in Sambo, and he demonstrate a few moves early on in the bathroom fight.