Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Solidier is a 2014 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger and the ninth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a screenplay by the writing team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. It stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America, alongside Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America, Black Widow, and Falcon join forces to uncover a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D. while facing a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

Plot[]

Two years after the Battle of New York,^{[N 1]} Steve Rogers works in Washington, D.C. for the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. under Director Nick Fury, while adjusting to contemporary society. Rogers and Agent Natasha Romanoff are sent with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s counter-terrorism S.T.R.I.K.E. team, led by Agent Rumlow, to free hostages aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. vessel from Georges Batroc and his mercenaries. Mid-mission, Rogers discovers Romanoff has another agenda: to extract data from the ship's computers for Fury. Rogers returns to the Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, to confront Fury and is briefed about Project Insight: three Helicarriers linked to spy satellites, designed to preemptively eliminate threats. Unable to decrypt the data recovered by Romanoff, Fury becomes suspicious about Insight and asks senior S.H.I.E.L.D. official and Secretary of Internal Security Alexander Pierce to delay the project.

On his way to rendezvous with Maria Hill, Fury is ambushed by assailants led by a mysterious assassin called the Winter Soldier. Fury escapes to Rogers' apartment, and warns Rogers that S.H.I.E.L.D. is compromised. Fury is gunned down by the Winter Soldier, before handing Rogers a flash drive containing data from the ship. Fury is pronounced dead during surgery, and Hill recovers the body. The next day, Pierce summons Rogers to the Triskelion. When Rogers withholds Fury's information, Pierce brands him a fugitive. Hunted by S.T.R.I.K.E., Rogers meets with Romanoff. Using data in the flash drive, they discover a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. bunker in New Jersey, where they activate a supercomputer containing the preserved consciousness of Arnim Zola. Zola reveals that ever since S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded after World War II, Hydra has secretly operated within its ranks, sowing global chaos with the objective of making humanity surrender its freedom in exchange for security. The pair narrowly escape death when a S.H.I.E.L.D. missile destroys the bunker, and realize that Pierce is Hydra's leader within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Rogers and Romanoff enlist the help of former USAF pararescueman Sam Wilson, whom Rogers befriended, and acquire his powered "Falcon" wingpack. Deducing that S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell is a Hydra mole, they force him to divulge that Zola developed a data-mining algorithm that can identify individuals becoming threats to Hydra. The Insight Helicarriers will sweep the globe, using satellite-guided guns to eliminate these individuals. Rogers, Romanoff, and Wilson are ambushed by the Winter Soldier, who kills Sitwell. During the fight, Rogers recognizes the Winter Soldier as Bucky Barnes, his childhood best friend who supposedly fell to his death on a mission, but was actually captured and experimented upon after WWII. Hill manages to extract the trio to a safehouse where Fury, who had faked his death, is waiting with plans to sabotage the Helicarriers by replacing their controller chips.

After the World Security Council members arrive for the Helicarriers' launch, Rogers broadcasts Hydra's plot to everyone at the Triskelion. Romanoff, disguised as one of the Council members, disarms Pierce. Fury arrives and forces Pierce to unlock S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database so that Romanoff can leak classified information, exposing Hydra to the public. Following a struggle, Fury kills Pierce. Meanwhile, Rogers and Wilson storm two Helicarriers and replace the controller chips, but the Winter Soldier destroys Wilson's suit and fights Rogers on the third. Rogers fends him off and replaces the final chip, allowing Hill to take control and have the vessels destroy each other. Rogers refuses to fight the Winter Soldier in an attempt to reach his friend, but as the ship collides with the Triskelion, Rogers is thrown out into the Potomac River. The Winter Soldier rescues the unconscious Rogers before disappearing into the woods. With S.H.I.E.L.D. in disarray, Romanoff appears before a Senate subcommittee and Fury, under the cover of his apparent death, heads to Eastern Europe in pursuit of Hydra's remaining cells. Rogers and Wilson decide to find the Winter Soldier, while Rumlow, who was a double agent for Hydra, is hospitalized following the Triskelion's destruction.

In a mid-credits scene, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, at a Hydra lab, proclaims that the "age of miracles" has begun as scientists examine an energy-filled scepter^{[N 2]} and two test subjects: one with superhuman speed, the other with telekinetic powers. In a post-credits scene, Barnes visits his own memorial at the Smithsonian Institution.

Cast[]

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Samuel L. Jackson as Director Nick Fury
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Robert Redford as Undersecretary Alexander Pierce
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon
Cobie Smulders as Deputy Director Maria Hill
Frank Grillo as Agent Brock Rumlow
Maximiliano Hernández as Agent Jasper Sitwell
Emily VanCamp as Agent Sharon Carter
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Toby Jones as Doctor Arnim Zola
Callan Mulvey as Agent Jack Rollins
Jenny Agutter as Councilwoman Hawley / Natasha Romanoff (disguised as Hawley)
Bernard White as Councilman Singh
Alan Dale as Councilman Rockwell
Chin Han as Councilman Yen
Garry Shandling as Senator Stern
Georges St-Pierre as Georges Batroc
Adetokumboh M'Cormack as Ferdinand Lopez
Aaron Himelstein as Cameron Klein
Gozie Agbo as Doctor Fine / Interviewer (deleted scene)
D.C. Pierson as Aaron
Danny Pudi as Moore
Branka Katic as Renata
Angela Russo-Otstot as Garcia
Jon Sklaroff as Russo
Steven Culp as Congressman Wenham
Brian Hartong as Anderson
Stan Lee as Smithsonian Guard
Thomas Kretschmann as Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (uncredited)
Henry Goodman as Doctor List (uncredited)
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver (uncredited)
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (uncredited)
Nestor Serrano as General Scudder (uncredited)
Damon Driver as Sergeant Michael Duffy (uncredited)
Unknown Actor as Gerald Durand (uncredited)
Unknown Actor as General Bryant (uncredited)
Unknown Actor as Sandell (uncredited)

Sequels[]

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was followed by a sequel Captain America: Civil War (2016) a fourth film Captain America: New World Order is scheduled for 2024.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

This is the ninth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This is the second highest grossing Captain America film.
This is the seventh highest grossing film of 2014.
This is the second film in the Captain America trilogy.
Anthony Mackie's appearance in this film fulfills his dream of playing a Marvel comic book character. He wrote a series of e-mail pleas to Marvel, wanting to play any comic character that would appear on film. Though the studio repeatedly replied to him that they will respond in due time, Mackie's emails caught the attention of producer Kevin Feige, who subsequently offered him the role of Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon.
Unlike other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this movie minimized the use of visual effects as much as possible. Anthony Mackie elaborated: "The Russos, what they did that was so great was, they wanted to stay with live-action, which is a dying art form. If they could build it, they built it. If we could do it, we did it. They wanted to do as little CGI as possible. That's why the movie looks so great."
Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson wrote their own dialogue for several scenes they had together.
Robert Redford wanted to do the film because his grandchildren are fans of Marvel films, and he wanted them to see him in one.
When asked why Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, or any of the other Avengers weren't called to help Captain America or Black Widow in the film, the screenwriters explained that the movie only takes place in about three days, therefore the characters didn't have a chance to contact them.
While writing the script, there was a big possibility of Hawkeye being in the film. However, the writers felt that there were too many characters introduced, and they didn't want Hawkeye to be there without any depth. They instead decided to write a small scene in which Hawkeye and his whereabouts are mentioned, which was shot, but ultimately wasn't included in the film.
According to Chris Evans, Steve Rogers continues his adjustment to the modern world, which began in Avengers Assemble (2012): "It's not so much about his shock with technology. It's more about the societal differences. He's gone from the 1940s to today. He comes from a world where people were a little more trusting, the threats not as deep. Now, it's harder to tell who's right and wrong. Actions you take to protect people from threats could compromise liberties and privacy. That's tough for Steve to swallow."
Anthony Mackie took the role of Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon, partly to give African-American kids another black superhero to enjoy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe apart from War Machine in the Iron Man movies. However, he was unhappy with the modern take on his costume as Falcon, since he wanted the red spandex look from the comics. Instead, this film adapts the Falcon from Marvel Comics' Ultimate Marvel imprint, which has him as a special operations soldier who happens to be equipped with a costume, goggles, and a unique winged flying harness with much more subdued dark colors.
The filmmakers described the Winter Soldier as a "negative image of Captain America."
There are two post credit scenes for this movie.
Kevin Feige selected Joe Russo and Anthony Russo to direct the film on the basis of their two back-to-back episodes of Community (2009) that they've directed, with which Feige was impressed: season two, episode twenty-three, "A Fistful of Paintballs" and season two, episode twenty-four, "For a Few Paintballs More".
Producer Kevin Feige described this movie as "a 1970s political thriller masquerading as a big superhero movie."
This movie is the last live-action appearance of the late Garry Shandling. While this movie was his final appearance on the big screen, his final film role would be in a voice-over, in The Jungle Book (2016).
Anthony Mackie described the film as "The Avengers: Part 1.5".
Prior to the release of this film, there was some doubt that this sequel would have much appeal outside of the United States considering the character's obvious American imagery. However, the film proved to be a major international success upon release.
In his first comic incarnation, Falcon had the superpower to communicate with birds telepathically. The film version, much like the Marvel Ultimate comics version, does not give Falcon any superpowers.
Although Captain America never holds or uses a gun in this film, he is still sometimes seen wearing a holstered pistol on his belt.
This movie takes place two years after Avengers Assemble (2012).
Anthony Mackie did this movie so that his son and other black children can see that there are superheroes who look like them.
The score from Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) is heard at the beginning, when Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson are jogging in Washington, D.C.
The Russo Brothers cited Klute (1971), The Parallax View (1974), Three Days of the Condor (1975), All the President's Men (1976), The French Connection (1971), and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) as inspirations for making this film.
Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, Imogen Poots, Teresa Palmer, Alison Brie, Emilia Clarke, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Elizabeth Olsen, and Jessica Brown Findlay were considered to play Sharon Carter. Although the role ultimately went to Emily VanCamp, Olsen appears as Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. Scarlet Witch in a mid-credits scene.
In the commentary, the filmmakers say the mask used by Natasha Romanov is based on the mask used by the Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), thus showing another link between H.Y.D.R.A. and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Michael B. Jordan read for the role of Falcon. He played Erik Killmonger in Black Panther (2018).
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kevin Durand, and Josh Holloway screentested for the role of Brock Rumlow a.k.a. Crossbones.
In this movie, Natasha Romanov a.k.a. Black Widow was twenty-nine years old, one year older than Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America, who was only twenty-eight years old (biologically). In real life, Scarlett Johansson is three years younger than Chris Evans.
When Steve Rogers is shown touring the Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian, there is a museum board with the title, " Welcome Back Cap." with a message thanking Captain America for his service to America. The message is signed by President Matthew Ellis, who would first appear in Iron Man 3 (2013), portrayed by William Sadler.
Chris McKenna, who worked with the Russo Brothers on Community (2009), did some script polishing during production.
The second time Henry Jackman replaced Alan Silvestri as the music composer for the film. The first being G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013).
F. Gary Gray and George Nolfi were considered to direct the film. F. Gary Gray previously directed Samuel L. Jackson in The Negotiator (1998), while George Nolfi previously directed Anthony Mackie in The Adjustment Bureau (2011).
Reunites Robert Redford with Scarlett Johansson after in The Horse Whisperer (1998), 16 years later.
In this movie, Robert Redford plays Alexander Pierce, and Sir Ben Kingsley plays Trevor Slattery in Iron Man 3 (2013). Both worked together in Sneakers (1992), with Kingsley playing the villain, and Redford the main protagonist. Now, both Academy Award winning actors have been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Joss Whedon directed the mid-credits scene with Baron Strucker, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch that sets up Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
According to producer Kevin Feige, every Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2 movie has an homage to Star Wars, in the form of a character losing an arm. -In Iron Man 3 (2013), Aldrich Killian loses an arm during the battle with Tony Stark. -In Thor: The Dark World (2013), Loki cuts off Thor's arm on Svartalfheim. -In Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Bucky lost his arm during his fall from the train. In Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Gamora cuts off Groot's arm during the group's initial scuffle on Xandar.
The Winter Soldier does not appear until thirty-two minutes into the movie.
The only Captain America film in the trilogy of MCU films where the main villain is killed off.
The bible verse inscribed on Nick Fury's tombstone pays homage to his character from Pulp Fiction.

Captain America
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Phase Two
Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Ant-Man (2015)