2014 | Dir. Anthony and Joe Russo | 136 Minutes
"The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."
As Steve Rogers adjusts to his new life as a SHIELD operative in the 21st century, he soon discovers that the organization has been compromised. Rogers is quickly branded an enemy and must place his trust in Natasha Romanoff to uncover the secret behind SHIELD's infiltration. Meanwhile, a mysterious highly-skilled assassin with direct ties to Rogers' past emerges from the shadows.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo craft a captivating thriller with satisfying hard-hitting action, forever shattering the status quo established in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films and setting the character of Steve Rogers on a journey that puts his courage and heroism to the test. The film begins with an intense rescue mission on a SHIELD freighter that ends with a fight between Rogers and mercenary Batroc played by former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre. The action and intrigue continue to escalate as Nick Fury is assaulted on the streets of Washington DC by operatives dressed as policemen and the masked assailant known as the Winter Soldier in an extended chase sequence. In the best fight scene of the film, and perhaps in all of Marvel Studios' films to date, Rogers fights a team of STRIKE operatives lead by Brock Rumlow who have trapped on an elevator. The intensity steadily builds as Rogers, Romanoff, and new ally Sam Wilson discover that SHIELD had been infiltrated by Hydra since its inception. The heroes are relentlessly pursued until they mount a mission to take down three highly-advanced helicarriers to save millions of lives in the film's explosive climax.
Reprising the role of Steve Rogers, Chris Evans demonstrates incredible camaraderie with Romanoff and Wilson, as well as incredible pathos when it is revealed the Winter Solider is his best friend Bucky Barnes. Sebastian Stan returns in a major way as the titular Winter Soldier, transformed into a lean physically-imposing killer, visibly disturbed when forced to confront Rogers. Scarlett Johansson turns in a strong performance as Natasha Romanoff building off the character work she established in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers, playing the perfect foil to Rogers' honest honorable soldier as the secretive master spy. In significant supporting roles are Samuel L. Jackson, once again playing Nick Fury with incredible authority, joined by Cobie Smulders once again as the resourceful Maria Hill. Reprising their roles from previous Marvel Studios films, Hayley Atwell appears briefly as Peggy Carter, Toby Jones returns as Hydra scientist Arnim Zola, Maximiliano Hernández reprises the role of Agent Sitwell, and Garry Shandling makes a guest appearance as US Senator Stern (last seen in Iron Man 2).
With nuance and precision, acclaimed actor Robert Redford portrays SHIELD leader Alexander Pierce, revealed to be Hydra's highest ranked infiltrator and the ultimate villain of the picture. Anthony Mackie plays Rogers' newest ally Sam Wilson, a likeable military veteran trained to use a state-of-the-art flight suit complete with a set of wings. Frank Grillo, known for various tough guy roles, portrays ruthless STRIKE agent Brock Rumlow, who stops at nothing on his mission to take down Rogers. Emily VanCamp appears in a small but vital role as the mysterious Agent 13.
With no shortage of star power, sequences that rely more on practical choreography than CGI, and a strong storyline that sheds light on SHIELD's darkest secret, Captain America: The Winter Soldier irrevocably changes the world of Marvel Studios' shared film universe. The filmmakers successfully advance the story of Steve Rogers to a new and captivating stage, crafting a great superhero picture that doubles as an thrilling action-packed espionage film.
MID-CREDITS STINGER
Dir. Joss Whedon
With Loki's scepter in his possession, Hydra leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann) is informed that Hydra's secret infiltration of SHIELD has been exposed but the news does not faze him as he observes two super-powered test subjects in separate holding cells, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).
POST-CREDITS STINGER
In street clothes, Bucky steps into the Captain America Smithsonian exhibit.
STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is a Smithsonian security guard who panics when he notices Captain America's uniform is missing from its display.
FRAGMENTS
- The items on Steve Rogers' list of things to experience vary in different international cuts of the film (Yahoo! Movies)
- The World Security Council is played by Jenny Agutter (who previously appeared in The Avengers), Chin Han (the conniving mob banker Lau in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight), Alan Dale (the villainous Charles Widmore on Lost), and Bernard White (Rama-Kandra in the Matrix film series)
- Character actor Gary Sinise narrates a Captain America Smithsonian exhibit
- Comedic actors DC Pierson ("boy genius" Duncan in Mystery Team) and Danny Pudi (Abed on Community) appear in minor roles
- Co-director Joe Russo appears as a doctor in one scene
- Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely appear briefly as SHIELD interrogators
- Ed Brubaker, creator of the Winter Soldier comic book character, makes a cameo as a scientist working on Bucky
- When Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff question Agent Sitwell, he mentions several people that Hydra would perceive as threats including Tony Stark and Dr. Stephen Strange
