The Amateur Movie Review: Rami Malek anchors this unconventional espionage drama
The Amateur Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,Director James Hawes’s espionage thriller is an unconventional addition to the genre—eschewing high-
Critic's Rating: 3.5/5
Story: A brilliant but deeply introverted cryptographer for the CIA finds his life upended when his wife is murdered in a terrorist attack. When the agency refuses to help bring justice due to internal policies, he transforms into an unlikely vigilante, hunting down the culprits across the globe.
Review: Director James Hawes’s espionage thriller is an unconventional addition to the genre—eschewing high-octane action and suave heroes with sleek gadgets. Yet, it doesn’t skimp on thrills, choosing instead a more cerebral, nerdy approach.
Written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, and based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel of the same name, the film follows Charlie Heller (Rami Malek), an awkward CIA analyst who sets out to avenge his wife’s murder. The premise—a grieving husband taking on dangerous criminals—is a familiar cinematic trope, layered with formulaic elements like chases, espionage, and picturesque settings in Paris, Marseille, Istanbul, and Romania.
What sets the film apart is the characterisation and the ingenuity of his revenge—choking one of the culprits, Gretchen Frank (Barbara Probst), on pollen by locking her inside an isolation booth, for example. Another highlight is a glass swimming pool on a skyrise crumbling down. He’s not a swashbuckling spy but his intelligence becomes his deadliest weapon.
Even amid the chases and explosions, the film holds on to its emotional core, portraying personal loss and loneliness with quiet profundity. It also explores moral ambiguity and the burden that comes with choosing a path of violence. A subplot involving internal CIA dynamics and a damning conspiracy adds an extra layer of intrigue. While a few threads remain unexplained and some of Charlie’s plans fall into place a bit too conveniently, these flaws don’t detract from the overall thrill of the narrative.
Rami Malek shines as the loner nerd on a warpath, bringing gravitas to the role of the rogue cryptographer. The fact that he never turns into a skilled killer adds a layer of realism to his character. Laurence Fishburne is compelling as the assassin tasked with training Charlie. Rachel Brosnahan is effective in her brief role, though she feels underutilised. Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Holt McCallany, and Julianne Nicholson deliver strong performances across the board.
The Amateur leans more towards clever planning than brute force, offering a refreshing take on the spy thriller. While it avoids the typical genre mould, it’s a gripping watch with enough action and intrigue.
Review: Director James Hawes’s espionage thriller is an unconventional addition to the genre—eschewing high-octane action and suave heroes with sleek gadgets. Yet, it doesn’t skimp on thrills, choosing instead a more cerebral, nerdy approach.
Written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, and based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel of the same name, the film follows Charlie Heller (Rami Malek), an awkward CIA analyst who sets out to avenge his wife’s murder. The premise—a grieving husband taking on dangerous criminals—is a familiar cinematic trope, layered with formulaic elements like chases, espionage, and picturesque settings in Paris, Marseille, Istanbul, and Romania.
What sets the film apart is the characterisation and the ingenuity of his revenge—choking one of the culprits, Gretchen Frank (Barbara Probst), on pollen by locking her inside an isolation booth, for example. Another highlight is a glass swimming pool on a skyrise crumbling down. He’s not a swashbuckling spy but his intelligence becomes his deadliest weapon.
Even amid the chases and explosions, the film holds on to its emotional core, portraying personal loss and loneliness with quiet profundity. It also explores moral ambiguity and the burden that comes with choosing a path of violence. A subplot involving internal CIA dynamics and a damning conspiracy adds an extra layer of intrigue. While a few threads remain unexplained and some of Charlie’s plans fall into place a bit too conveniently, these flaws don’t detract from the overall thrill of the narrative.
Rami Malek shines as the loner nerd on a warpath, bringing gravitas to the role of the rogue cryptographer. The fact that he never turns into a skilled killer adds a layer of realism to his character. Laurence Fishburne is compelling as the assassin tasked with training Charlie. Rachel Brosnahan is effective in her brief role, though she feels underutilised. Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Holt McCallany, and Julianne Nicholson deliver strong performances across the board.
The Amateur leans more towards clever planning than brute force, offering a refreshing take on the spy thriller. While it avoids the typical genre mould, it’s a gripping watch with enough action and intrigue.
