Movie – The Amateur
Star Cast – Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, and Laurence Fishburne
Director – James Hawes
Genre – Action/ Thriller
Story
The Amateur, directed by James Hawes, is a 2025 action thriller that offers a modern take on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel. The film follows Charles Heller, a CIA analyst whose life is shattered when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. Frustrated by his superiors’ inaction, he takes matters into his own hands and goes around the world to kill those terrorists using his brain over brawns.
While the film has its share of compelling moments, it also struggles with uneven execution. Here’s a look at what worked and what didn’t:
What Worked
Rami Malek’s Performance
Rami Malek gives a strong performance as Charlie Heller, a grief-stricken analyst whose transformation from an intellectual decoder to an international murderer. The character feels grounded, raw, and relatable, adding a human element.
A Unique Protagonist
Unlike typical action heroes, Charlie relies on his intellect and spontaneity rather than brute strength or combat skills which is refreshing. For example when he was watching a youtube video to learn how to pick a lock on a spot which was funny and also when he uses his knowledge about coding to hijack the ship at the end of the movie.
Inventive Use of Technology
As Charlie has a tech-savvy background, the story leans to it and showcases a creative way of using technology to outsmart his opponents. This focus on cleverness over physical dominance sets the movie apart from other revenge thrillers.
Supporting Casts
Laurence Fidhburne as Henderson and Caitríona Balfe as Inquiline helped Charlie grow and helped him on his mission. They bring a depth to the story even if their screen time is limited.
Grounded First Act
The initial setup — Charlie’s grief over his wife’s death and his frustration with his superior’s inaction — is emotional. The training sequences highlight his inexperience showing his weakness and strength which makes it more believable.
What Didn’t Work
Pacing Issues
While the first act is strong, the film loses momentum as it progresses. Some action sequences feel stretched or repetitive, and the narrative occasionally wanders at times, which lessens its emotional impact.
Too Hard To Believe
Charlie‘s ability to dodge highly trained CIA officials and deals with risky scenarios in ways that don’t always happen. Although his fast thinking is appreciable, some of it gets too convenient or fabricated.
Underdeveloped Subplots
Some elements of the story, such as Charlie repairing an old plane or Sarah’s background, was not fully fleshed out and also don’t contribute to the plot. Because of it the story feels incomplete.
Emotional Resolution
The conclusion of the movie was somewhat satisfying but felt rushed. It would have been so much better if Charlie’s emotional journey could be more impactful and also if it could explore his personal growth and closure.
Missed Potential for Supporting Characters
While the cast is talented, many supporting roles — including those played by Rachel Brosnahan (Sarah) and Jon Bernthal (The Bear) — are underdeveloped. They had a good setup but because of the limited screen time, they couldn’t give any serious impact.
Final thoughts
The Amateur successfully offered a fresh perspective on the revenge thriller by focusing on the intellect over action, which was thanks to Rami Malek’s strong performance. However, its pacing issues, underutilized subplots, and underdevelopment of supporting casts prevented it from being one of the best. Fans of revenge thrillers who are looking for something different can enjoy it but its better suited for streaming rather than theatrical experience.
[Contributed By Anushka Gaikwad]