Skip to main content

Red Sparrow (2018)

Red Sparrow is about a Russian ballerina who must work for her government. Her mission: to get information out of an American who has a mole in the Russian administration.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, the same man who brought you The Hunger Games and I am Legend, Lawrence does a great job with the flow of the film. For films that are thrillers and mysteries, the problem is having the audience figure out the ending before the climax. The way the film is edited and used allows a smart audience member to be tricked into thinking it is one person when it was someone else the entire time. Great direction.

This, other than Mother! is the hardest role I believe that Jennifer Lawrence has ever done. She has a pretty trying and rather quick transition from ballerina to Jason Bourne, Black Widow, completely-awesome heroine. She is smart and willing to go the distance to make sure that she and her mother are happy. I can't really go into more details without spoiling her character. Just know she does a great job being vulnerable and awesome at different times.

Joel Edgerton does a better performance than I was expecting. The last time I saw him was in Bright and I wasn't impressed. He was really great in The Gift. He plays a predictable but also smart government agent who makes a big mistake in the beginning but is needed to keep the cover of his mole.

This film was the best I've seen Jeremy Irons since Die Hard with a Vengence. He can convey so much with just his face it's really remarkable even if he's not in the film that much compared to the other two.

Result: A- (One of the best movies so far this year. That's not saying much but it is in theaters now.)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Undertone (2026)

Undertone (2026) from A24 is a film that commits almost entirely to tension. From the moment the atmosphere settles in, it rarely lets up. About ninety percent of the runtime is built on sustained unease with very little relief, punctuated by a handful of terror moments. If you are already tense, the movie keeps you there until the credits. Ian Tuason writes and directs, and the film ends up feeling more pretentious than carefully constructed. The movie begins as what looks like a story about a possessed podcast, but it quickly turns into a religious horror film that also tries to make the audience wrestle with themes about abortion. The bait and switch is noticeable, and the narrative focus becomes messy. Several scenes feel directly inspired by Paranormal Activity , sometimes to the point of distraction. Nina Kiri , known for The Handmaid's Tale and the horror film The Heretics , carries the movie as the central character. She plays a very different type of role than her ch...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Long Walk (2025)

The Long Walk (2025) is directed by Francis Lawrence , who is best known for helming the last four Hunger Games films. While the source material has plenty of potential, the direction and writing here feel uneven, leaving the story without the same impact his previous work carried. Cooper Hoffman , recognized for Licorice Pizza , leads the film but gives only an average performance compared to his breakout role. His delivery lacks the spark that made him so captivating before. The standout instead comes from David Jonsson , known for Alien: Romulus , who gives the most compelling and emotional performance in the film. Mark Hamill , beloved for his iconic role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars , unfortunately delivers the weakest and wooden acting in the cast, coming across as stiff and disengaged. He tries his best to channel his inner unhinged patriot but it's clear he doesn't have a good frame of reference. Ben Wang, who has appeared in projects like Karate Kid: Legends and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is the conclusion to Ethan Hunt’s battle against The Entity, and the stakes have never been higher, or more personal. Directed once again by Christopher McQuarrie , who has become as much a staple of this franchise as the theme song, the film stays in his usual lane. He delivers practical stunts, exotic locations, and clean choreography. This time, though, things feel a little safer than they should. There are flashes of brilliance, but it doesn’t quite reach the tension or impact of earlier entries. Still, it’s polished and confidently made, even if the sense of danger feels slightly dialed down. Tom Cruise is back doing what only Tom Cruise does. He throws himself at this role like he’s still trying to prove something. The stunts are still jaw-dropping, and his dedication to keeping things physical instead of digital continues to elevate the action. Emotionally, the character gets a few solid moments, but mostly it’s the Ethan Hunt show as ...
Post a Comment
Read more