The 12 Best Moments Of Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad has finally arrived and has proven to be another divisive entry into the DC Extended Universe. Once again, debates are raging within audiences about the merits and flaws of a comic book movie, and once again, Warner Bros. is busy deflecting blows from unimpressed film critics. Make no mistake – the film is considerably more flawed than perhaps anyone was expecting. Based on its extensive marketing campaign, and the source material that is readily available in DC comics, we were expecting to see the first major feature film to be entirely about supervillains. The centering of a highly sympathetic Deadshot effectively removes the teeth of the movie, however. Individually, the characters are far more interesting than the plot of the film and, with the exception of the use of a bomb, the third act is lifted almost entirely from 1984’s Ghostbusters. That’s not an exaggeration – this final section of the film is much closer to Ivan Reitman’s beloved classic than Paul Feig’s 2016 actual reboot ever gets, to the extent that Colonel Flag’s love interest even breaks out of the encasement of the evil creature that possessed her, and falls into his arms when the action has finished. Having said all that, there is also a lot to enjoy in Suicide Squad. In a film that is strong on characterization and weak on plot, the best parts of the whole thing inevitably hinge on those characters shining through, and giving us a tantalizing glimpse of their inner lives. The biggest successes are the scenes in which choices are made, and the morally ambiguous areas that exist between us are highlighted. So, to focus on the positive, here are the 12 best moments of Suicide Squad. The Introduction Of Belle Reve Penitentiary Comic book movie fans know Gotham well. Metropolis is familiar territory, and even Arkham Asylum is well-trod ground. So, when the latest DC adaptation opens with a look inside Belle Reve Penitentiary, writer-director David Ayer immediately has our attention. In the source material, Belle Reve is a site so far off the grid that Amanda Waller selects it as the headquarters for her Task Force X – also known as Suicide Squad. In the movie, it is gloriously rendered in the opening sequence. It is an isolated facility, deep in the swampland of Louisiana, and we are left under no illusion about what happens behind those big, grey walls. We follow senior prison guard Griggs (Ike Barinholtz) as he leads his team to the holding areas of Deadshot (Will Smith) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) in turn. Griggs clearly has a marked conflict with Deadshot, and a brief verbal exchange leads to the hitman being held down and mercilessly beaten by a whole group of guards. Griggs then interacts with Harley Quinn, and we see shots of him and his staff force feeding her through a nasal tube. In her cage, she begs for him to “come and play” because she is bored, before we discover that the bars are electrified to keep her away from them. All of these scenes combine to create a picture of life in Belle Reve Penitentiary – which is vital if we are to care at all about why these characters wish so desperately to get out. It’s not just that they don’t like being incarcerated – it’s that the facility they are locked inside is nightmarish. At the same time, it telegraphs loud and clear just how evil these supervillains are – that they are terrible enough to warrant detention in such a place. Deadshot And Batman If you are coming into Suicide Squad with little knowledge of the comic book history of Deadshot, then the scene in which the hitman encounters Batman (Ben Affleck) is a great moment. Deadshot – also known as Floyd Lawton – is walking through Gotham with his young daughter. He is divorced from the girl’s mother, and is concerned to hear that the mother-daughter dynamic is a troubled one. Deadshot explains to his daughter that he has a plan, and that he is working hard to ensure she can soon come to live with him, and they can live happily ever after. But, his daughter knows about Deadshot’s chosen career, and asks plainly if they will be living from the proceeds of him killing people. He is uncomfortable with this line of questioning – not least because she assures him she still loves him, and this makes him wonder what the impact of his lifestyle will have on his offspring. Rounding a corner into an alleyway, Batman suddenly descends behind them, growling that it’s all over for Deadshot. The moment, in and of itself, is thrilling because we are seeing Batman from a different perspective for the first time. Deadshot has just been set up as a loving father who only wants to provide a good life for his daughter, and here comes this masked vigilante who is threatening that future. In this scene, it is Batman who is the antagonist rather than the hero – and that is a fascinating twist on the usual dynamic. It’s also a great moment because it builds upon the new version of Batman that began with Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice – the Batman that is kind of creepy and intimidating, and lurks in the shadows waiting to pounce. The way in which he drops into the alleyway behind Deadshot, and states very simply that this is justice catching up with the hitman, really is ‘proper’ Batman. Harley Quinn And The Joker The scenes that feature both Harley Quinn and The Joker (Jared Leto) are so strong that they actually take us out of the movie for their duration, and make us frustrated that we don’t get to see more when we return to the main narrative. In this way, these scenes are both a strength and a flaw in Suicide Squad. But, taken as they are, our first introduction to the relationship between Dr. Harleen Quinzel and the Clown Prince Of Crime is by far one of the best moments of the film. We catch sight of her treating him in Arkham Asylum, but can’t hear their conversations – until he asks her for a machine gun. We see The Joker and his minions taking over the asylum and we see The Joker torturing Dr. Quinzel. We see flashes of the two of them in poses lifted directly from the comic books – with Harley in different costumes – and then we see them in The Joker’s criminal underworld, with her as his moll. It is this part of the sequence that really kicks the characterization of Harley Quinn into high gear. The Joker is meeting with another criminal – Monster T (Common) - in a club, and Monster T is distracted by Harley, who is busy gyrating in the other room. The Joker beckons her over and offers her to Monster T – an instruction with which Harley seems happy to comply. Monster T finds this disturbing, however, and declines – which causes The Joker to kill him. At first glance, this is a heinous act on the part of The Joker, because he is treating Harley like a possession – a toy he is able to lend to his friends. While this is true, it also has nothing at all to do with Monster T. It speaks to the abusive dynamic between the lovers. It is a twisted test – The Joker challenging Harley’s commitment to truly do anything for him, while for Harley, it is an opportunity to prove the depths of her devotion. This becomes even clearer in a later flashback, as we see The Joker give Dr. Quinzel the choice of whether or not to pledge herself entirely to him. She chooses to take that step, and is literally baptized into a life of crime by her beloved Clown Prince himself. Deadshot's "Cheerleading Tryout" Unsurprisingly, most of Suicide Squad’s funniest moments involve Will Smith’s Deadshot. The most notable of these occurs when Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) arrives at Belle Reve with Colonel Flag (Joel Kinnaman) to test the skills of the hitman, with a view to recruiting him for her Task Force X. Deadshot is brought out of his cell to a long table, covered in a vast array of guns, facing a selection of targets. Colonel Flag orders Griggs to remove Deadshot’s shackles. Griggs is vocal in his dissent, harking back to an earlier scene in which Deadshot threatened his life. Griggs loses the debate, Deadshot loads a gun, and points it straight at his prison guard nemesis. Amanda Waller confirms to him that the bullet in the chamber is not a live round, and that he can just go ahead and fire at Griggs. After a beat, Deadshot fires into the ceiling to reveal that Waller was lying. He then moves his way through the arsenal in front of him, demolishing the targets in turn. Having demonstrated his formidable abilities, Deadshot steps up to Colonel Flag and details his demands – the price of his talents. He wants out of jail, and full custody of his daughter. He wants an Ivy League education for her, fully paid for, and he wants her set up for life. Colonel Flag tells him that he doesn’t get to make demands, to which Deadshot replies that he wasn’t talking to Flag, he was talking to Waller – Flag’s boss. It is a glorious moment that draws together many of the strengths of the casting of Suicide Squad. The detail and dynamic of this scene is squarely in the wheelhouse of Will Smith, who effortlessly dominates his big monologue. It also sets up the dynamic between Flag and Deadshot – based in rivalry – going into this mission. Lastly, it drives home the fact that Viola Davis casts a long shadow as Amanda Waller – and her powerful presence is infused into every frame, even when she says nothing. The Squad Lays Waste To The Demons It's their first deployment as a team, and they do not know what they are walking into. They have survived the crash of the helicopter they were being transported in, and are in the streets in the heart of the city, approaching a group of hostiles. As they gradually realize these hostiles are not exactly human, the seriousness of their situation begins to sink in. The Squad are operating under threat of death – courtesy of explosive devices implanted in their necks. For this reason they wait, belligerently, for instruction from Colonel Flag, whom they deeply resent. As Flag and his military colleagues assess the situation, Deadshot uses his eye-piece to get a closer look at the creatures, who suddenly begin to attack. Each Squad member springs into action – Deadshot shooting as necessary, Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) using his weaponry to slice and dice, Katana (Karen Fukuhara) slashing as she goes, Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) dismantling demon bodies, and Harley Quinn shooting and beating her way through the crowd. The demons begin to swarm around Flag and drag him away – a sight which Harley smiles at, and says, “Good riddance.” She is perfectly willing to let Flag perish, until Deadshot reminds her that if Flag dies, they all die – so she reluctantly joins the Squad in rescuing the soldier. Suddenly, the Squad really let rip – with the exception of El Diablo, who continues to keep his pyrokinetic powers under wraps. Harley swings and swipes with her baseball bat – demolishing demon after demon in a frenzied onslaught – and Deadshot rains bullets down upon the creatures with fearsome intensity. This is the first moment we really see the Squad working together as a team, and it is a great sequence. Using the action to bring out character elements and relationship dynamics among the group, this first showdown is a highpoint in the movie’s narrative. Waller Kills The FBI Agents The Squad has no idea as to the identity of the person they are supposed to be extracting from the midst of the demon infested city they have been sent to, and feel a deep sense of betrayal when it transpires that person is Amanda Waller. She is barricaded in the top of a skyscraper, surrounded by FBI agents, directing the Squad in their combat operation. It becomes clear that she has endangered their lives in order to save her own. Throughout the film thus far, there have been repeated insinuations about the moral fibre of Amanda Waller – suggesting that she is, herself, the worst of the worst. She has a powerful presence, and wields the threat of death over the Squad – but it is not until this moment that her true nature is laid bare. In shutting down the office and collecting the items she needs to save, she suddenly turns and executes the four FBI agents that were working alongside her – leaving only herself and the Squad alive. Her explanation to Flag is that those agents did not have clearance. Flag desires no explanation, however, having fully accepted the fact that for all the serial killers and evil meta-humans he has been working with, Amanda Waller is by far the most dangerous. Harley Chooses To Return Throughout the film, a subplot develops regarding Harley Quinn and The Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime is desperate to reunite with his beloved, so he finds Griggs and manipulates him by exploiting his weakness – his gambling addiction. Using Griggs, he covertly supplies Harley Quinn with a cell-phone, and sends her messages to tell her he is coming for her. When he does, it is in spectacular fashion – by hijacking the helicopter that is meant to airlift Amanda Waller out of the city, and opening fire on the Squad. By infiltrating the company responsible for the manufacture of the explosive devices inserted into the necks of the Squad, The Joker disables Harley’s, leaving her free to escape with him. It is an ill-fated rescue attempt, however, as the helicopter is shot down shortly after the lovers are reunited. Harley falls from helicopter, lands on a rooftop and watches it crash into the street – presumably with The Joker on board. She is devastated, lost, and alone. When the remaining Squad members emerge from the skyscraper, they find Harley sitting atop a car in the rain. She has been crying, but the precipitation has hidden her tears. Seeing her colleagues approach, she gathers herself and fakes a warm smile. She has decided to return to the fold, and the Squad welcomes her back. This is among the most significant moments for Harley, because at this point, she is entirely free. The explosive device in her neck has clearly been disabled, and she could easily slip away into the night without fear of retribution from Amanda Waller. As far as she knows, The Joker is dead, so she is no longer under the influence of her devotion to him. She chooses to return to the Squad, however, which demonstrates that she is a person who needs people. She needs to feel as though she is a part of something – whether it is a rag-tag group of supervillains, or a deeply unhealthy, abusive relationship with a psychopath. The Bar Scene Before the film heads into its Ghostbusters-esque third act, there comes the inevitable moment where the team falters. Deadshot discovers the truth about their mission, and about Colonel Flag’s involvement with the subject of that mission, and the whole group downs tools and heads into a deserted bar for a drink. As Harley serves shots to the team, they listen to Deadshot philosophize about life, and El Diablo (Jay Hernandez) explain why he refuses to use his powers. It transpires that Deadshot and El Diablo are almost opposites. While Deadshot willingly kills people for money, he is a loving father to his daughter. El Diablo, on the other hand, was a terrible husband and father who eventually killed his own family. As Harley encourages him to own his actions and embrace his true, evil nature, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and Killer Croc are quietly horrified by his admission. The scene effectively examines the different shades of evil that exist – as the subject is discussed by characters whose own evil acts are tempered to varying degrees by the remaining aspects of their personalities. We see that, for Deadshot, his evil acts comprise just one part of his identity – with the rest being defined by his role as a father. For Harley, her evil acts comprise a larger proportion of who she is, because it is forever enmeshed in her desire for a life with The Joker, and her need to be a part of something larger than herself. For El Diablo, his evil acts are entwined with his deep-seated fear that his destructive super-power entirely defines who he is. He operates from a place of fear – which is what caused him to kill his family, surrender to the authorities, and also vow never to use his powers again. The Squad Sticks Together It is a small, but brilliant moment during the final showdown, when we see the real power of the bond that has been forged between these Suicide Squad supervillains. There is a terrifying being stalking the room, and it is seemingly invincible. The overall plan is to destroy it with a bomb – which Killer Croc is putting into position in the sewer below – but the creature must be herded into a specific corner in order for it to be destroyed. El Diablo goes in, using the same pyrokinetic powers we have seen him employ before, but is thrown aside by the powerful being. In two quick cuts, we see both Deadshot and Harley Quinn react to the sight of their teammate being set upon. Though they had previously been hanging back in fear of the abilities of this thing, they immediately set their jaws in determination, and step up to fight. They may be serial killers, but they will not tolerate their Squad member being attacked. El Diablo’s Big Reveal We think we’ve seen the totality of El Diablo’s fire skills. It is certainly easy to believe that this is the power that led to him being responsible for the deaths of his wife and children. But the fact is, those beams of flame that burst from his hands barely scratch the surface. As it becomes clear that the Squad are outmatched by the other-worldly being that is pacing around in front of the Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), El Diablo rallies and makes a move as if to throw himself back into the fray. Deadshot tries to stop him, and El Diablo says, “Let me show you who I really am!” Then, like some kind of pyrokinetic hulk, he gets very, very angry, and transforms into a huge flaming creature with awesome strength. The Squad are agog, and El Diablo is able to push the giant demon into the right corner – sacrificing himself in the blast to help save the world. The transformation is a surprise, and makes the character arc of El Diablo all the more meaningful. Throughout the film, he has been quietly wrestling with his own demons, before revealing his true nature and physically combating very real demons. To use the power that killed his family to help save the world means that El Diablo has achieved some form of redemption in the eyes of his fellow Squad members – and that is a fitting end to this great character. Harley Kneels Before Enchantress By the final scenes of the film, we have learned a lot about Harley Quinn – and writer-director David Ayer uses that to ratchet up the tension with regard to her choices. She is unpredictable insofar as she is highly spontaneous, but she has also shown herself to be a person that needs to be connected to others. So, when Enchantress issues an ultimatum to the Squad, giving them one last chance to join with her and help her rule the world with darkness, Harley speaks up. She suggests it might be good idea to take Enchantress up on her offer – breaking ranks with the Squad and taking tentative steps forward. Her Squad-mates protest, but Harley reasons with them – it makes sense, after all, because they are “bad guys,” right? She turns to Enchantress and asks her if she can bring The Joker back to her, and the witch agrees – Harley just needs to bow before her in submission. Harley begins to move to her knees, and this twist almost seems to make sense. But, at the same time, we don’t want it to be true – because we don’t want Harley to choose to submit to anyone. She has, up to this point, been the embodiment of the concept of agency – and we want that to remain the case. As Harley drops to her knees, she tells Enchantress, “I like what you’re sellin’, lady.” Then she viciously lashes out with a knife, reaches into the witch’s chest, and removing her heart. “But you messed with my friends,” she growls. Suddenly, the Squad has the upper hand, and swing back into action. Harley has saved the world – choosing that option over selling her soul in exchange for the resurrection of her beloved. “You Don’t Have The Balls.” The giant demon has been killed by the bomb, Harley has removed the heart of Enchantress, and that heart is now in the hand of Colonel Flag, As the witch is reduced to her weakened, wispy form, she begs Katana to kill her, so that she can join her brother. Flag stops her from doing so, however, demanding that Enchantress return June Moone to him. Dr. Moone has been the human form that Enchantress has possessed up until now, and Flag is in love with her. Flag wants his girlfriend back, and threatens to crush the heart of Enchantress if she does not comply. “You don’t have the balls,” she hisses, and Flag angrily rips the heart in two. Enchantress dies and turns into a hard encasement from which, shortly afterward, June Moone breaks free. Flag did not know this was possible when he crushed the heart, however, and did so only in response to Enchantress questioning his masculinity. The point here, though, is that Enchantress had every expectation that Katana would be ready and willing to take her life – but for Flag, she has to use manipulation. In that moment, Enchantress gets what she wants – death – and all she needed to do to get it was belittle Flag’s fragile male ego.