The Amateur
Directed by James
Hawes
Guest Reviewer Doug Solem Sr.
The
Amateur, starring Rami Malek, is a fun and
gripping thriller that delivers both
high-stakes action and a good story line.
Malek gives a spot on performance as a CIA
cryptographer thrown into a world of danger
and deception after a personal tragedy
pushes him to seek justice on his own terms.
The pacing and cinematography are
razor-sharp and the story never lets up.
What truly sets this film apart is its
ability to balance tension with action, all
while grounding the drama in Malek’s
portrayal of a man walking the line between
vengeance and redemption.
One area where
The Amateur could have gone further is in
developing the bad guys. While the plot
keeps them mysterious they do not come
across as ruthless or threatening. Their
motivations and backstories remain somewhat
underexplored, which slightly dulls the
impact of their role in the narrative.
Still, the film’s emotional core, slick
direction, and standout lead performance
more than make up for this shortcoming. The
Amateur is a compelling, edge-of-your-seat
film that is worth seeing on the big screen.
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The
Amateur, starring Rami Malek, is a fun and
gripping thriller that delivers both
high-stakes action and a good story line.
Malek gives a spot on performance as a CIA
cryptographer thrown into a world of danger
and deception after a personal tragedy
pushes him to seek justice on his own terms.
The pacing and cinematography are
razor-sharp and the story never lets up.
What truly sets this film apart is its
ability to balance tension with action, all
while grounding the drama in Malek’s
portrayal of a man walking the line between
vengeance and redemption.