Sometimes, Love Fuels Relentlessness
The Amateur is a thriller that is centred on the life of a CIA codebreaker who loses control when his wife dies in a London terrorist attack. When his bosses refuse to approve a mission, Charlie Heller sets out on his own to find the killers, with no backup and no clearance. Heller’s intelligence becomes the only weapon he can rely on, and watching how he uses it is one of the film’s captivating elements. Directed by James Hawes and written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, The Amateur is based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell. The film stars Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne, and Rachel Brosnahan.
How it All Began
The opening scene of The Amateur captures the quiet joy of being married to someone you love deeply. Sarah Heller ( Rachel Brosnahan) is getting ready for a conference. Before leaving, she asks Charlie (Rami Malek) to make her a cup of coffee. It turns out perfect, and she says, “What am I gonna do without your coffee for five days?” That performance was genuinely blissful. As usual, Laurence Fishburne (Henderson) was on his A-game in The Amateur. He was a true soldier who always followed orders except when they conflicted with his personal ethics. He would prove this when he almost died for his former student. Also, he reminded the audience that a person could be brilliant in one field and be the opposite in a different field.
Rami Malek will impress his fans. His character’s brilliance in this film is uncommon, especially in scenes where it feels like there’s no way out. On a few occasions, he outsmarted the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and had them focused on arranging imaginary puzzles. At one point, he breaks into a stranger’s home while watching a YouTube tutorial at their doorstep on how to pick a lock. Charlie used the “21st law of power (play a sucker to catch a sucker)” from Robert Greene’s extraordinary book 48 Laws of Power, to uncover how Henderson found him. The lessons in The Amateur are striking. It shows how intelligence can outsmart even the most advanced systems. The film depicts how the CIA can find anyone, no matter where they hide. Charlie got help from his anonymous acquaintance, whose location has been undisclosed for a period of time. Just when they were about getting comfortable, the CIA came without invitation.
Intelligence vs Strength
20th Century Studios came together with James Hawes as director and Rami Malek as the protagonist to produce this masterpiece. However, they had support from Patrick Ness, who wrote the young adult novel, The Knife of Never Letting Go. Also, two-time Academy Award Nominee Scott Frank and Scott Burns, who wrote the screenplay for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), took part in the production of The Amateur.
The CIA director in The Amateur seems a bit undeserving of the role. A person with such power in the CIA is supposed to exude a certain commanding but quietly dangerous aura. However, Samantha O’Brien (played by Julianne Nicholson) lacks this attribute in the film. Despite being a villain in The Amateur, Chief Moore would’ve been a better director than Samantha O’Brien. Chief Moore wasn’t the best, but you can perceive his formidable presence from a mile away.
Charlie’s boldness in this film is unwavering. From blackmailing the CIA to outsmarting them, his actions defy expectations. One thing this movie does not lack is realism. It shows how far someone can go for revenge, and why people should not underestimate the ability of a human. The storyline of The Amateur movie proves that intelligence often triumphs over brute strength. Charlie Heller, a quiet, nerdy-looking man with an intelligence quotient (IQ) comparable to Albert Einstein’s, shows the CIA the true power and capability of brainwork through his actions. Chief Moore (played by Holt McCallany) initially underestimated Charlie. In one scene, when Charlie makes a bold statement, Moore replies mockingly, “I don’t think you could beat a 90-year-old nun.” By the end of the film, Charlie does far more than anyone expected. He did what no one could’ve seen coming.
One flaw worth noting is that Chief Moore finds a bug in his office so easily that one might think he planted it himself. The film’s director could’ve worked on that by adding a series of mysteries in uncovering the bug to make it feel real. It’s almost impossible to just get the idea that an office has been bugged especially when it was planted in a jukebox’s CD. It should’ve been a gradual process in locating the bug, this way it will feel more natural.
The Martin Ruhe’s Effect
Martin Ruhe’s cinematography in The Amateur, brought a realistic feel to the 123-minute action thriller. With the use of ARRI Alexa Mini cameras and anamorphic lenses known for their cinematic qualities, he captured the stark contrast between Charlie’s life and troubling environments. The 2.1 anamorphic aspect ratio contributed to the film’s feeling of suspense and emotional grief. This also increased the visual quality of the movie, giving it that bright cinematic experience. The Amateur’s choice of songs is not entirely bad, but is slightly close to mediocrity.
What You Should Know
The Amateur is way beyond typical thrillers because of its complex themes of surveillance, trust, and manipulation. The cinematography was magical, as well as the cast for this movie. James Hawes did an outstanding job in choosing the right cast to work with on this set. The film offers valuable lessons for viewers, setting it apart from the average action film. The blend of intelligence, suspense, unpredictability, and emotional depth ranks the rewatch value above average. Making it stand out from a crowded genre.
Watch The Amateur on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Spectrum on Demand, and YouTube.
The Amateur (2024) Official 20th Century Studios Trailer
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Author
precious osagie
Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News.