The Amateur (2025), directed by James Hawes, is a compelling action spy film starring Rami Malek as Charlie Heller, a CIA cryptographer seeking revenge after the tragic death of his wife in a terrorist attack. The film focuses on Charlie's journey across Europe, hunting down the criminals responsible for her death. Malek delivers a strong performance, capturing the inner turmoil and resolve of a man driven by loss. Laurence Fishburne adds depth as Charlie's mentor, Robert Henderson, while other supporting roles, such as Caitríona Balfe's Inquiline and Michael Stuhlbarg's Horst Schiller, enhance the film's mystery and tension.
While The Amateur excels in tension, character-driven storytelling, and suspense, it does fall into some predictable tropes. The plot, though engaging, follows a familiar revenge narrative, and the film's pacing can feel slow at times, especially with a runtime of over two hours. Despite these flaws, the film avoids the usual bombastic action scenes, focusing instead on grounded, realistic action that adds to the film's charm. Overall, it's a solid and enjoyable film, offering a satisfying experience for fans of understated spy thrillers, though it may not leave a lasting impact on the genre.
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