I Watch Films: Birds Of Prey And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn was the Joker’s girlfriend, which was a large side-plot of Suicide Squad, but now she’s split up with him. Her previous immunity to consequence in Gotham City has been withdrawn. She obviously reacts to this with violence and mayhem, while also knowing that she’s not coping well; after all she was (is? Though I imagine her license to practice has been suspended) a psychologist.
Meanwhile Roman Solais, gangster, sadist and owner of the Black Mask club is making a play to become crime lord of Gotham. This seems unwise in a city full of weirdly dressed maniacs including (presumably) the Batman. On the other hand Roman’s not too stable so I guess this checks out, and the Batman is international now (see Justice League) so perhaps has been neglecting things at home.
Anyway one of his moves is to get the Bertinelli diamond which has the codes to the Bertinelli fortune. One of the reasons there is a vacancy for crime lord is that Helena Bertinelli, aka the Crossbow Killer, is in town, murdering everyone who was involved in her family’s massacre.
Roman decides to make Dinah Lance, a singer at his club, his new driver after Harley breaks his old driver’s legs. Renee Montoya, a cop who is constantly having the credit taken from her by her male colleagues, is on the case. And Cassandra Kane, pickpocket who lives in Dinah’s building, has just stolen the diamond from Victor Zassz, Roman’s right hand man and evil face-peeling knife artist.
All these plotlines weave together elegantly, something that is disguised by the way the film is framed as a slightly incoherent story Harley is telling, possibly to herself, possibly breaking the fourth wall to us the viewer, and also by the fact it is loud, violent, stupid and funny.
Watch This: For a violent and silly film about women getting
out from under abusive men in loud cartoonish ways
Don’t Watch This: If grotesque violence and people coming
good after multiple murders and betrayals are not for you
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