In this first-ever installment of our weekly Movie Memory Machine mini-series, we spin off from Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre to bring you five stylish spy flicks that deliver the charm, tension, and flair Guy Ritchie's film tried to summon. From De Palma's Mission: Impossible to Hitchcock's North by Northwest, we spotlight the genre’s high points—and a few chaotic curiosities (looking at you, Casino Royale 1967). We also ponder Jason Statham’s self-parody arc, pay tribute to Cary Grant’s suits, and try to remember Kingsman without comparing it to Spy. This one’s for the trumpet players.
In this first-ever installment of our weekly Movie Memory Machine mini-series, we spin off from Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre to bring you five stylish spy flicks that deliver the charm, tension, and flair Guy Ritchie's film tried to summon. From De Palma's Mission: Impossible to Hitchcock's North by Northwest, we spotlight the genre’s high points—and a few chaotic curiosities (looking at you, Casino Royale 1967). We also ponder Jason Statham’s self-parody arc, pay tribute to Cary Grant’s suits, and try to remember Kingsman without comparing it to Spy. This one’s for the trumpet players.
Films Discussed:
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Mission: Impossible (1996)
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Spy (2015)
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Casino Royale (1967)
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Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
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North by Northwest (1959)
Topics Covered:
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The evolution of the spy movie post–James Bond
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How Mission: Impossible reinvented the genre’s stakes
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Why Spy gets Jason Statham better than Jason Statham does
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Revisiting the offbeat parody that was Casino Royale (no, the other one)
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Matthew Vaughn’s candy-colored chaos in Kingsman
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Hitchcock’s influence on style, storytelling, and the spy archetype
Key Takeaways:
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Some spy movies age like wine; others age like minestrone.
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Operation Fortune wants to be cool—but these five films actually are.
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Cary Grant’s gray suit may be the single most influential piece of clothing in film history.
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Fashion, tone, and self-awareness are essential to pulling off spy pastiche.
Listener Prompt:
What’s your favorite stylish spy movie? Did we leave off a gem? Let us know on social using #MovieMemoryMachine.
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