“The Amateur” (2025) is the second film adaptation of Robert Littell’s spy novel. Risk averse CIA cryptographer Charles Heller prefers work and staying close to home over tagging along on his wife’s business trip to London. When masked men take her hostage and kill her, the inconsolable widower demands field training so he can kill her murderers. Will this nerd get revenge or killed?
Malek, who is best known for his Emmy award winning performance in “Mr. Robot” and playing a Bond villain in “No Time to Die” (2021), is a perfect fit for a nervous nerd spy. It is not a spoiler to note the scene in the preview when a bomb explodes that Heller sets, yet he seems surprised and instinctually afraid of the blast. Heller is a jittery fellow that killing simultaneously does and does not come easily to. It is unfortunate that the previews give away one of his best kills, but the first kill is a particularly ingenious method of torture that a lot of moviegoers will relate to with Easter around the corner. It did feel as if some scenes were cut for time such as his friendship with fellow nerds like Carlos (Adrian Martinez) or his mascot status with cool kid CIA agent, The Bear (Jon Bernthal, who is always a consummate scene stealer). Also instead of telling moviegoers how Heller is responsible for a lot of the tech that they are using to track him, it would have been nice if they had shown it more in the beginning of “The Amateur” instead of working alone and essentially texting a friend.
Instead, Heller’s main foil is Colonel Robert Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), who is tasked with preparing Heller to go into the field. Fishburne is a sure-fire winner in any role that he takes and lately has become the John the Baptist for action heroes whether Neo (Keanu Reeves) in “The Matrix” (1999) or John Wick (also Reeves) in “Chapter 2” (2007) and “Chapter 4” (2023). Here he plays a more ambiguous role because Henderson may have to obey orders to kill his pupil. Fishburne is prepared for that too if anyone recalls the rousing Season 2 opening of “Hannibal” as he and Mads Mikkelsen tore each other up in an apartment. If Fishburne was not cast in the role, his appearances in “The Amateur” would feel more random, rhythmless and resonate less.
“The Amateur” seemed to have some problem in translating the book to the screen and deciding which storylines to keep and which ones to diverge from then never went back and read the whole story to ensure that their choices still worked as a whole. Even someone unfamiliar with the source material or the 1981 movie may still draw unintended connections to the opening scene of Heller’s job and his wife’s subsequent murder, which is used as a tool, not a cause, for the events of this version. The change probably adds needless confusion to the story, but it does streamline and maintain the momentum, so Heller does not get bogged down in conspiracy theories.
A clearer story would have raised the stakes of the B storyline taking place at the home office. CIA Director Samantha O’Brien (Julianne Nicholson) can sense that her subordinates, CIA Deputy Director Alex Moore (Holt MCallany) and his right-hand man (Danny Sapani), are up to unauthorized shenanigans. Part of the tension is supposed to be whether she can out them before they thwart Heller’s plans to get revenge. It is far more interesting to see Ali Park (Alice Hewkin) and the rest of the CIA team try to keep up with Heller in Virginia and get outwitted each time.
“The Amateur” is a very clear movie. Before leaving for the next destination, Heller announces it in one way or another then the city and country appears on screen. It is those nice little touches that brings everyone along for the ride and makes the film seem like a real spy thriller. Heller travels from London, Marseille, Istanbul, Madrid, Romania and Russia. The film probably was not shot in all those locations, but you would not know it from looking at it.
Some of the action scenes defy logic. Even though Heller is closer to gunmen, the person further away gets shot. It is an otherwise excellent chase scene that runs the gamut of chasing elements. Also for inquiring minds, if you want to know what kind of birds function as an alarm in “The Amateur”, they are guinea fowl. Co-writer Ken Nolan cut his teeth on adapting “Black Hawk Down” (2001) arguably one of the best war and Ripley Scott films ever, but it is his best credit and “The Amateur” could be his second. Cowriter Gary Spinelli’s best film credit is “American Made” (2017). They do a solid job, but it is not the kind of movie that is breaking new ground. The best element is a surprising theme about mourning spouses, but it is not the kind of film that goes beyond a couple of scenes that tackle grief in a poignant way.
Director James Hawes has vast television experience, but “The Amateur” is only his second film after the more modest biopic “One Life” (2023). It is a big leap for Hawes, and he rises to the challenge. Anyone can make historic skylines look iconic, but he keeps the office popping with intercutting scenes of surveillance footage, various screens and deep scans to depict the technological aspect of Heller’s work. The found footage elements made the flashback scenes more interesting—the idea of trolling the web to catch last glimpses of a loved one before execution is shattering. Also in fight and chase scenes, it never gets confusing or muddied. There are some eyeroll worthy, naked commercials for Heineken, Kroger, etc., but do not hate the player, hate the game. Get money! Daddy needs a new Cessna! The oneiric scenes are cheesy, but at least dead wife Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan) was not giggling under a sheet on a sunny day or caressing wheat while randomly walking a field. Small blessings. He checks boxes when the protagonist goes to a club with electronic music playing, which is a requirement for all vigilantes who refuse to even tap their feet.
“The Amateur” is an entertaining film, but it will not stick to your bones. If you enjoy the cast or spy thrillers, definitely check it out. If you want to have a double feature movie day, see “Black Bag” (2025) afterwards to supplement your spy in love willing to go to any lengths for his lover desires! If you are looking for an innovative film that reinvents the genre, do not waste your time.
Random, non-sequitur note: at certain angles Ramek resembles Michael Shannon. Two men could not look more different, but there were moments where I saw the resemblance in their faces.
