The Reel Review
After his wife is taken hostage and killed by terrorists, a brilliant, mild-mannered CIA analyst uses his explosives and cyberhacking expertise to exact revenge on those responsible for her death. Rami Malek, Lawrence Fishburne and Caitriona Balfe (Belfast, The Highlander) star in this spy thriller.
As long as you ignore some truly ridiculous story elements – our analyst blackmailing his corrupt CIA bosses to get a day of combat and firearms training for his one-man murder spree, that the widow of a dead Russian agent in Istanbul (an excellent Balfe) inexplicably helps him, and Jon Bernthal’s pointless two scenes as a CIA field agent – The Amateur is actually a fun, mindlessly entertaining ride.
Under the directorship of James Hawes, who gave us last year’s annoyingly corny (but effective) Anthony Hopkins-led tearjerker One Life, The Amateur is Jason Bourne light, with a convincing enough performance from Malek to make up for a predictable screenplay.
REEL FACTS
• The Amateur is a remake of the 1981 film based on Robert Littrell’s novel released that same year.
• Hugh Jackman was unsuccessful in creating a post 9/11 film adaptation of the novel.
• The Amateur was filmed in London and southeastern England, Paris and Istanbul.
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