“The Amateur,” directed by James Hawes, stars Rami Malek. It was produced and distributed by 20th Century Studios and opened in theaters on April 11, 2025.
Set in the modern day, “The Amateur” is a spy thriller focused on Charles Heller (Malek). Charles is an experienced CIA decoder and intelligence gatherer. His life is thrown into turmoil when his wife, played by Rachel Brosnahan, is murdered by terrorists. After growing frustrated that his superiors are doing nothing to avenge her death, he blackmails them into letting him go out on his own and get the justice she deserves.
Starting off with the good, the film has some heavyweight actors who bring their all. Malek does an excellent job of bringing some authenticity to the character of Charles. He depicts his struggle in a believable way. Laurence Fishburne is another standout actor in the film, playing the jaded combat instructor Henderson. He lends a sense of humanity to a commonly one-note role. Unfortunately, aside from the performances, the film misses the mark in most categories.
The movie’s score is bland and leaves much to be desired. It relies heavily on the same musical motif. By the end of the movie, it’s downright obnoxious to listen to. The cinematography is serviceable, bordering on plain, and the characters lack the depth that is needed for a story like this.
Instead, it relies on tropes and cliches to fill in the patchwork. Brosnahan’s character is just another one of the hundreds of murdered wives who die in the first act, with her only character traits being smiling, being full of life and loving her husband. Simply put, the story of this film is something that has been done before and will be done again.
Another place where the film falls short is in the actual revenge. A great deal of focus is given to the fact that Charles can’t kill people if he has to look at them. That is a reasonable point, seeing as before the events of the film, he was essentially an office worker. The movie then goes on to show him nearly killing a woman via a lethal asthma attack by trapping her in a room that he fills with pollen. At another point, he forces a man to swim for his life as an airborne pool breaks around him. Most disturbingly, he makes a man hold a bomb that he can’t let go, or else it will explode.
The point is Charles does not come off as the emphatic antihero the film is trying to make him. His methods are far, far worse than just shooting them. And yes, the film tries to address that angle but does so in a very surface-level way, never truly condemning Charles for his actions.
“The Amateur” is a perfectly acceptable spy movie. It has good action beats and a well-rounded cast who plays their parts well, but its story lacks depth. Not to mention the mishandled themes and morals that are spoon-fed to the audience. When it comes to being in the mood for some espionage and action, there are certainly worse choices. There are also better choices, too.
“The Amateur” is available now in theaters.
