The Amateur

The Amateur

Released April 11, 2025

Directed by James Hawes

Written by Ken Nolan, Gary Spinelli, and based on the book by Robert Littell




* No Spoilers *

A competent spy thriller and revenge plot with a great cast and some interesting ideas. The Amateur is reminiscent of ‘90’s political espionage films like Enemy of the State, clearly inspired by the Bourne films, and full of parallels to real whistleblowers like Edwards Snowden. 

True to its name, this is a fresh take on the genre, centred around an unlikely lead who perseveres while being in way over his head. There’s a solid emotional hook, but the way it’s leveraged to thrust the character into the action feels a bit ridiculous and eye-roll inducing. It came so far into the movie that I was already invested, but found myself wondering if there was a better way to establish the rest of the story. Even so, it laid the groundwork for the tangled web of competing interests that ultimately paid off as a well-executed genre staple.

The cast is full of big names, from Rachel Brosnahan (Superman), to John Bernthal (The Accountant), and Lawrence Fishborne (John Wick 2) as the tough mentor we have seen him play before. Rami Malek (Mr. Robot, No Time to Die) carries the movie and fits the role. A conflicted genius with a bit of an edge. If you aren’t a fan of Malek’s deadpan delivery or personal peculiarities, it might be tough to stick with. For me it worked and his portrayal of grief and the dark path it can lead one to is compelling. 

The story at times feels far too implausible and contrived, but the set ups lay enough foundation to make things feel slightly more believable. I appreciate that I was kept on my toes and was often caught off guard with where things progressed. The creative ways Malek’s character succeeds felt more sadistic than satisfying, raising important questions about his morality. Unfortunately, while there is some commentary on that front, many of the ideas feel undercooked. Deeper than your typical spy thriller, but feels forced at times, more like a TV movie or a novel, while not necessarily a negative, it left a sour taste in my mouth. 

Where this really shines is in the creative editing and stylish direction. I loved the scenes where Malek’s character undergoes extreme stress, triggering memories of his past superimposed over present locations. Often punctuated by sound effects, like a gun shot, or the overwhelming bass of a night club. Feeling much longer than its two hour run time, this slowed down more than the typical thriller to explore the character’s emotional journey. I liked it, but let this be a warning to those who expect something more snappy and fast paced. 

In the end this was surprisingly well-executed, scratching the itch for a solid political espionage thriller. Harkening back to the sometimes outlandish plot progressions of films like Patriot Games and Enemy of the State. I enjoyed the fresh take and liked Malek’s portrayal, but was left rolling my eyes at a few of the more ridiculous situations. I try to let go and avoid nitpicking for realism, but despite its attempts at being grounded, this stretched even my suspension of disbelief. 

6.5/10 - A unique, but somewhat absurd, espionage thriller that fails to escape the shadow of its far superior influences.  If you are interested in this, I would avoid the trailer as it gives away far too much of the plot. 

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