The Woman from U.N.C.L.E.
Thursday, August 6, 2015 at 8:30AM 
Murtada here to praise the images released so far from next weekend's wide release The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer are lookers and judging from the trailer seem to be having fun. It’s Alicia Vikander’s big year and of course she’ll be entertaining. However the most exciting proposition the marketing has offered so far is Elizabeth Debicki as the villain. And her gorgeous costumes.
Debicki is the big baddie of the movie. Her name is Victoria Vinciguerra, the mastermind behind the criminal organization that our spies must stop before she throws the world into calamity. [More...]
A classier Xenia Onatopp with the costumes of Iris Apfel.
Costume designer Joanna Johnston (Lincoln, Death Becomes Her, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation) has put Debicki in turbans, scarves and long flowy caftans. Adorned her hands and face with huge rings, big bauble earrings and long necklaces. It’s a lot of look. But it’s also gorgeous, unique and quite delicious. And Debicki with her tall lithe frame and huge eyes carries everything authoritatively and with confident grandeur.
It’s not surprising that all her roles so far have been period pieces. She takes well to elaborate period specific costumes. Whether The Great Gatsby’s 1920s or 1960s here. And more specifically to haughty glamour. Her costumes tell us she’s a bit dangerous, a bit unreachable whether she’s a successful golfer or a ruthless villain. You might fall in love but you’ll be burned as she always knows just a little bit more.
Could this withholding yet alluring persona be the reason why she hasn’t become bigger as was expected post Gatsby (2013)? She has certainly received her fair share of raves both for that breakout and for her work onstage in The Maids. It’s no easy feat to be declared “best in show” when sharing the stage with with two of the world’s supreme actresses. Next for Debicki are two small parts in this fall’s Everest and Macbeth, let’s hope U.N.C.L.E is the start of a brilliant star-making phase of her career.
Even if U.N.C.L.E. is less fun than it looks, Johnston and Debicki have, at least, already delivered.
What’s your dream role for Debicki?
Reader Comments (10)
I chime in with your love of Debicki, despite the fact we have little to go on. I hope and expect big things for her, especially since her agent is Hylda Queally at CAA (who represents Blanchett, Winslet, Cotillard and Chastain among many others!) She does have 2 TV projects in the can, but she was made for the cinema! I think her height may be an issue, particularly if being considered in a traditional romantic interest role. But height could help score a superhero/villain role if thats the road she wants to go down. With Gatsby, Uncle, The Maids and I guess even Macbeth she gets opportunities to dress up and look incredible, so I would be happy to see her parade in fabulous outfits! Maybe she could play a model or dancer since she knows how move too.
The only reason for me being excited for this film is the women and especially Debicki who was made Gatsby worth the watch stealing the entire film from everyone. She reminds me so much of a young Blanchett and I only want the best for her. I feel bad that her height might someone affect her career but either way it's more exciting to play the villain so if that's what she's given I'd say take it. She looks spectacular in U.N.C.L.E. and hopefully this summer we have Theron the great hero on one end and Debicki the great villain on the other end.
She reminds me of Joely Richardson for some reason.
She is like a great mix of Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Joely Richardson
I don't know if it's the costumes or lighting or whatever, but she is giving about the best neck I've seen since Audrey Hepburn. She seems born to wear beautiful clothes and maybe she can even bring back, well, grooming, to the masses.
I don't know how tall she is but everyone is mentioning it, so I guess that she and Armie Hammer should always act together? There are some other tall guys out there too, right?
I loooove her. I wish this movie didn't walk like a flop & quack like a flop.
I've only seen her in Gatsby as I noticed how tall she is but she was great in that film.
Hmmm i wonder how she would have been in the Rooney Mara role in Carol.
Dave - I hadn't noticed the neck before you mentioned it but yes! She's so elegant. I'm sad she lost the part in Fantastic Beasts to Katharine Waterston.
Santy C, I originally thought of that too, but the height difference and the physical similarity with Cate may have made it strange. Which is not to say they could have made it work, for someone who has not seen The Maids I do hope we get to see Cate and Elizabeth in a film soon.