Rami Malek returns to the world of espionage in The Amateur. Directed by James Hawes, the spy thriller revolves around Charles Heller (Malek), a CIA analyst, who embarks on a revenge-fueled mission seeking justice for his wife’s death after she’s killed during a terrorist attack in London. The film is based on the 1981 novel written by Robert Littell, but Hawes reimagined the storyline to fit modern times with the help of Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli as the scriptwriters. James Bond franchise fans know that Malek starred in No Time to Die as the bioterrorist Lyutsifer Safin opposite Daniel Craig as the legendary James Bond. In The Amateur, Malek takes the lead, joined by Rachel Brosnahan, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Bernthal, Holt McCallany, and many more.
For fans of the James Bond franchise, this film shares similar qualities while still standing on its own as a spy thriller. Malek’s character, Charles, isn’t the suave and charming agent that James Bond is, but moviegoers get to see a fresh take on the spy genre. Viewers see a tech intellectual fumble his way into the action and make up the moves as he goes. While there’s some action in the film, Heller’s mission relies more on modern technology than the death-defying stunts seen in any James Bond film. The movie defies spy thriller expectations, but there’s still a thrilling aspect of seeing someone find his footing to carry out a mission driven by vengeance.
‘The Amateur’ Doesn’t Avoid the Stereotypes
While the film is a bit of a departure from the standard spy film, the stereotypes remain. Malek portrays Charles Heller, a man with a steady and important job as a CIA analyst living in domestic bliss with his wife Sarah (Brosnahan) before things take a turn for the worse. Sarah is killed in a terrorist attack in London, and the government dismisses investigating the matter, essentially allowing the terrorists to remain free. His superiors, Samantha O’Brien (Julianne Nicholson), the CIA director, and Director Moore (McCallany), his boss, and Caleb (Danny Sapani), suggest that he should take some time away, but Charles refuses.
Blinded by rage, Charlie retrieves any and all data regarding the attack and uses his analytical skills to decipher what happened that day and who the perpetrators were. There are shocking revelations that Charles has to come to terms with, including Moore’s involvement in the attack, which puts a target on his back by the CIA and the terrorist group for knowing too much. The premise feels familiar to that of the Jason Bourne and James Bond franchises, but some elements set The Amateur apart from those other films.
‘The Amateur’ Brings the Spy Genre Back to the Digital Age
The Amateur takes a step back from the action-packed sequences and focuses on technology and its warfare capabilities. Whenever technology comes up in conversation, you’ll often find a divisive response to it, meaning some people see the advantages and others see the dangers. This film views technology as an advantage, making it stand out from the formulaic spy films. There are fighting sequences that involve hand-to-hand combat, so those action elements that people love about this genre are still present but not at the center of espionage in the modern world.
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The film reflects the modern world’s technological advancements and calls into question the use of artificial intelligence. It explores digital manipulation, crime scenes depicted in 3D, and vocal analysis. It hits close to home when you’re reminded that this is possible in our society today, with people creating AI-generated content, from images to verbal conversations. For those who prefer an action-packed film, this might not be your cup of tea, but the topic it explores is just as interesting as watching two people engage in a combative sequence.
Is ‘The Amateur’ the Next Spy Thriller Hit?
And Where Can You Watch ‘The Amateur’?
It’s still too soon to tell whether the film will be a hit, but the early ratings on Rotten Tomatoes show a divided response from critics and moviegoers. Critics have given the film a 61% rating, and audiences have given it an 88% rating at the time of writing. Audiences have had a more positive reaction to the film than critics, but we still have to wait and see if the score drops after the global release. The spy genre faces the constant challenge of sacrificing the storyline for the action-packed sequences or the action-packed sequences for the storyline. It’s also become a challenge to produce a spy thriller that offers audiences something new.
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Some recycled storylines give away the story to viewers as soon as it begins. The revelations are visible from a mile away, and the only thing that manages to save these films is the fight scenes. Malek’s return to the genre was an exciting prospect. The film bringing technology to the forefront of the spy genre was a nice departure from the typical formula, so if you’re excited to see the Oscar-winning actor return to the world of espionage and are fascinated by technology and the endless possibilities it provides, then The Amateur is for you. The Amateur is in theaters now.
