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‘The Amateur,’ starring Rami Malek, looks the part but can’t execute the mission

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In a playful jibe, Charlie’s wife Sarah, played by Rachel Brosnahan, often mocks Charlie (Rami Malek) for his discomfort with flying and aversion to taking risks. To aid him in overcoming these apprehensions, she gifts him an old Cessna aircraft hidden away in a barn on their countryside Virginia property.

In “The Amateur,” the protagonist Charlie appears shy and careful, whether at home or work as a CIA decoder. However, everything shifts dramatically when Sarah is slain in a London terrorist attack. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Charlie uncovers his exceptional abilities beyond the George Bush Center for Intelligence’s boundaries. His fear of flying and reluctance towards risk are set aside by his thirst for vengeance.

The series ‘The Amateur,’ directed by James Hawes, penned by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli (based on Robert Littell’s novel), delivers an international spy thriller with a unique twist: What if Jason Bourne was more of a bookworm? Unlike Bourne, Charlie doesn’t suffer from amnesia; instead, he grapples with his own clumsy skills in fieldwork espionage and reluctance to kill another person up close – a skillset he may need to develop if he hopes to secure the justice he feels Sarah requires.

In this rephrased version: The concept is intriguing, and Malek delivers an outstanding performance, with his distinctive sharp-edged face and haunting eyes, always observing his surroundings. “The Amateur” boasts a polished production, featuring an aesthetically pleasing style and rhythm, accentuated by a captivating Volker Bertelmann score. The ensemble cast is impressive, featuring Holt McCallany and Julianne Nicholson in high-ranking CIA positions, Laurence Fishburne as the individual they summon to instruct Charlie, Jon Bernthal as an engaging field agent, and Caitríona Balfe as a puzzling international contact. All the pieces are in place, but unfortunately, the film fails to live up to its potential, remaining frustratingly static.

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After nearly half a century since he started shooting ‘Apocalypse Now’ at the age of 14, Fishburne talks about his latest film ‘The Amateur’ and reflects on the projects that shaped his professional journey.

Initially, “The Amateur” presents an engaging scenario where the protagonist, Charlie, decides to personally probe into the mysterious death of his spouse. Leveraging his expertise, he meticulously reconstructs the day’s events and pursues the killers relentlessly in a mere 30 seconds. However, when the CIA hesitates in taking decisive action against them, Charlie chooses to act outside their rules. He covertly gathers damaging evidence about a questionable covert operation and its subsequent cover-up, using this information as a bargaining chip to request hands-on training in the field.

With their tolerance waning over this hastily made deal, Charlie skillfully evades the federal authorities and embarks on his own journey, whether prepared or not. It’s when our protagonist arrives in Europe that “The Amateur” begins to stall. There’s no building tension as he locates the mercenaries who killed Sarah and dispatches them using his unique methods. Regrettably, the trailer reveals one of the film’s most extraordinary assassinations, so it proceeds with the excitement of a joke that has been told before.

In “The Amateur,” we find ourselves often anticipating events instead of being left guessing or unraveling a mystery. Although there are unexpected moments, such as Charlie’s expertise with improvised explosive devices, the plot lacks the element of surprise because the storyline is too straightforward and transparent. The characters’ motives, in this case, Charlie’s vengeance against his wife’s killers, are clearly laid out without any suspense or shocking twists. In comparison, “John Wick” handled a similar theme more skillfully with an element of artfulness to keep the audience engaged.

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Bernthal is severely underutilized in the film, yet he skillfully transforms his limited part into something substantial. Hawes possesses an exceptional cinematic asset – a powerful third-act monologue by Michael Stuhlbarg – but it’s not enough to rescue “The Amateur.” Both actors infuse some energy into the storyline, but their efforts fall short of reviving the overall dullness.

In essence, “The Amateur” is less about action-packed thrills and more focused on an emotional exploration, which raises the question: why might we lean towards the emotional journey over the action-packed one in this scenario? Charlie continually emphasizes that Sarah holds significance for his superiors and adversaries, yet we learn very little about her beyond her inclination towards unique gift-giving. What brought her to London in the first place remains unexplained.

The movie “The Amateur” appears to lack certain elements, and it’s not entirely clear whether these omissions occurred during the project’s development or post-production. However, recognizing this wouldn’t affect the overall outcome. Despite its polished exterior, the storyline within the film is clumsily structured and painfully dull. It might be best for Charlie to continue his current job.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

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2025-04-12 01:31

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