The Amateur
A Cerebral Study in the Cost of Killing
A painfully serious revenge thriller that plays like a somber version of Bourne.
Directed by James Hawes (Slow Horses), The Amateur is an intriguing thriller that explores the heavy moral weight of vengeance. Rami Malek plays a CIA data analyst who steps out of his desk job to hunt those responsible for his wife's murder. While the film hooks you early, it shifts away from traditional action toward a character study on the soul-eroding nature of violence—a theme it shares with the classic Unforgiven.
"Killing a person is like cutting a piece out of oneself that can never be replaced. Either one is a killer or they are not."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: James Hawes
- Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Laurence Fishburne
- Supporting: Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Holt McCallany
The Vision
James Hawes brings a grounded, TV-prestige aesthetic to this spy drama. It eschews the "fun" of the genre for a gritty realism, focusing on Malek's non-emotional, overtly cerebral performance style. The haunting presence of Rachel Brosnahan in flashbacks serves as the emotional anchor, maintaining sympathy for a protagonist who is otherwise difficult to read.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Literary Roots: The film is based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell, which was previously adapted into a film in the same year.
- Director’s Pedigree: Director James Hawes is best known for helming the entire first season of the Apple TV+ hit Slow Horses.
- Global Thriller: Production took place across various international locations including London, the South of France, and Istanbul to capture a classic spy-thriller scale.
✅ Pros
- Strong "cloak and dagger" ensemble performances.
- Compelling moral exploration of the psychological toll of killing.
- Excellent use of flashbacks to ground the revenge motive.
❌ Cons
- Sorely lacks the satisfying "revenge" peaks common in the genre.
- Tension flags significantly in the second act.
Full Review
The Amateur is an intriguing thriller from James Hawes, the director behind the critically acclaimed first season of Slow Horses. A painfully serious revenge story, the film hearkens back to superior spy cinema, playing out like a more cerebral version of The Bourne Identity. Rami Malek stars as a CIA data analyst who attempts to transition into field work to avenge the senseless murder of his wife.
The film does a great job of hooking the viewer early as we witness this mild-mannered desk jockey mourning his loss, but it is unable to maintain that tension throughout the runtime. The movie sorely lacks any comedy or truly satisfying revenge elements, as much of the thematic drama plays like a character study on the sheer difficulty of killing a person up close—a theme famously shared with the classic western Unforgiven.
As several characters note throughout the film, killing someone is like cutting out a piece of oneself that can never be replaced; either one is a killer or they are not, and it isn't something that can be taught. However, The Amateur is not a total loss. There is entertainment to be had in the fun "cloak and dagger" performances from Laurence Fishburne, Holt McCallany, Caitriona Balfe, and a brief cameo by Jon Bernthal.
For better or worse, this is Rami Malek's movie. While critics often argue his characters are overly cerebral or emotionally distant, that nature serves the story effectively here. Malek manages to carry the film, aided by the haunting presence of Rachel Brosnahan as his murdered wife, which keeps the audience sympathetic to his cause. Ultimately, there is enough action, suspense, and dramatic weight here to earn a modest recommendation from me.
🏆 Final Verdict
The Amateur earns a modest recommendation for fans of cerebral spy dramas. It’s an efficient, if somewhat joyless, thriller that honors its source material through Rami Malek’s intense, singular performance style.
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