How far would you go to avenge the love of your life? This is the haunting question at the heart of The Amateur, the new thriller from director James Hawes that takes us on an emotional and suspenseful journey. Starring Rami Malek alongside Rachel Brosnahan and Laurence Fishburne, The Amateur is a profound exploration of loss, resilience, and the limits of human endurance.
Malek, known for his intense and layered performances in “Mr. Robot” and Bohemian Rhapsody, plays Charlie Heller, a reclusive CIA codebreaker whose quiet, methodical life is shattered when his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), tragically dies in a London terrorist attack.
When his supervisors refuse to take action, Heller takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.
From the moment we’re introduced to Malek’s Heller, there’s an authenticity and vulnerability that sets him apart from your run-of-the-mill action hero. He’s not a highly-trained operative; he’s one of us. He’s just an ordinary man thrown into unimaginable circumstances, armed only with his intelligence and an unrelenting desire for justice.
Malek’s ability to balance Heller’s vulnerability and quiet strength is the driving force behind the film’s success. One memorable scene depicts Heller alone late at night, replaying video footage from a surveillance camera for the hundredth time. Hawes’ camera lingers on his face, and through his small, almost imperceptible movements, Malek conveys an ocean of grief and determination and I felt it. Here’s where many will find fault, yet it’s the biggest reason this whole thing works: he’s not turning into a brute-force action hero; he’s simply relying on his resourcefulness and intellect to push forward, step by step.
The film’s pacing helps keep us in the game as Heller is thrust into a world of international intrigue as we learn that the covert operation is far outside his expertise. Yes, it’s a high-stakes, globe-trotting adventure, but Hawes, who works from a script adaptation from Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, never allows the spectacle to overshadow the humanity at the story’s core.
The supporting cast adds rich texture to the narrative. Brosnahan gives her Sarah a warmth and vitality that makes her loss all the more heartbreaking, even though she appears mostly in flashbacks. Laurence Fishburne, as a weathered and morally ambiguous CIA mentor, brings gravitas and complexity to the story, forcing us to reflect on the murkiness of institutional trust. Their performances elevate the film beyond a simple revenge arc, grounding it in a deeper conversation about personal and systemic accountability.
Hawes’ direction is taut and purposeful, blending action with emotion. One particularly riveting sequence unfolds in a bustling Moroccan marketplace where Heller employs his cunning to evade assassins. Unlike the bombastic, choreographed excess of most espionage films, The Amateur thrives on tension, reserve, and the resilience of the underdog. Heller’s every move is calculated, his nerves fraying as he improvises his way out of every situation.
But what truly sets The Amateur apart from a traditional revenge thriller is its emotional arc. Heller’s quest begins with vengeance, but it becomes so much more. Scenes of quiet reflection allow the film to explore grief in a nuanced way, peeling back the layers of Heller’s pain as he realizes that revenge may not bring the closure he seeks. It’s a poignant reminder of the messy, nonlinear process of navigating loss and rebuilding.
Whether you’re a fan of edge-of-your-seat thrillers or stories that grapple with the complexities of the human heart, The Amateur fits the bill. It’s more than a film; it’s an entertaining meditation on grief, resilience, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 123 mins
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Ken Nolan; Gary Spinelli
Cast: Rami Malek; Rachel Brosnahan; Jon Bernthal
Genre: Thriller | Espionage
Tagline: Don't underestimate him.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Well, it's the CIA. I got to trust that they'll make the right call."
Distributor: 20the Century Studios
Official Site: https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/the-amateur
Release Date: April 11, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: When his supervisors at the CIA refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a decoder takes matters into his own hands.
