"The Amateur," directed by James Hawes, was recently released in theaters. This film features Rami Malek as Charles Heller, Rachel Brosnahan as Sarah Heller, and Laurence Fishburne as Robert Henderson. It is a thrilling film filled with high-impact action scenes.
"The Amateur" follows Charlie, a genius CIA decoder whose world turns upside down after he finds out his wife died in a London terrorist attack. He decides to use his intelligence as a weapon against the terrorists when his supervisors refuse to hold the men responsible. He receives training at the CIA to prepare to take down the terrorists. This does not go as planned, so he uses his intelligence to take down the terrorists as he tracks them across the world.
Highs
The main highlight in "The Amateur" is Malek’s portrayal as Charlie, which is compelling and full of emotion. His character is a tech genius full of grief for his deceased wife. He shows his determination to hold those responsible. The action scenes involve him using his coding skills to his advantage to discover the murderers of his wife. Those scenes are entertaining, and they show the pain Charlie has from losing his wife.
The film’s plot for revenge for those who murdered Charlie’s wife is also gripping and creates a thrilling sensation. Charlie discovers the truth behind the political destruction, which creates an obstacle he has to face to find the ones responsible. The film travels the world, which is visually stunning and captures the unique culture of each country. This emphasizes the film’s aesthetic appeal.
Laurence Fishburne's portrayal of Henderson is hilarious in some aspects but also includes intense scenes. The bond between Charlie and Henderson grows as the movie develops. Charlie escapes Henderson, trying to do the mission on his own without his help. This shows Charlie's determination and growth. He seems like a weak character, but he shows Henderson that he will complete this deadly mission.
The character Esther (Caitriona Balfe) is another highlight because she turns out to be a mysterious hacker with a vendetta against the same terrorists. She brings the audience another perspective of pain due to losing her husband. She adds emotional depth that creates a bond between her and Charlie.
Lows
There are minimal lows in "The Amateur." The main issue is the pacing as the details about what happened before Charlie’s wife passed get lost. Also, considering how action-packed the film is, it still has some scenes that are more predictable.
The one frustrating character is Director Moore (Holt McCallany), the villain determined to kill Charlie. He has his political agenda, which betrays his country and creates obstacles for Charlie. He has an arrogant attitude that can be irritating at times.
Verdict
"The Amateur" is a thrilling, action-packed film worth watching. Malek’s performance is strong and compelling, which keeps the audience intrigued the entire time.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Mariam Fakhreddine is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. She has worked as a news and features reporter for The Echo for two years.
