The Wasteland Reviewer

The Amateur (2025) Written Review

What makes someone a killer? In a more meta context, what makes someone an action star? The idea of who we perceive as an action start or a killer spy has certainly changed over time. You had the cool and suave James Bond type for decades. Tall, cool, confident, masculine, and strong. That is what a spy on screen looked like. To an even more extreme, action stars were muscle bound killing machines in the 80s into the 90s with actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone redefining what an action star could be. But with the arrival of Jason Bourne with The Bourne Identity, the action/thriller/espionage scene had changed. This whole idea of who can be a killer is the heart and soul of the new espionage/revenge thriller The Amateur. 

Does the story laid out by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli’s screenplay explore this concept well? The Amateur is based on Robert Littell’s novel that explores the idea of a CIA decoder whose wife was killed in a terrorist attack and the agency will do nothing. You get a story that explores him trying to be trained as a field operative (by Laurence Fishburne’s veteran assassin) then transitions into his own hunt for the four individuals responsible for his wife’s death. There are plenty of familiar beats in the film that we see in espionage films. There are some interesting subversions, especially with the journey of Charlie Heller (our decoder) and where he ends this film from a moral standpoint as well as a skill set. This is an interesting underdog story as we witness Heller’s work starting out sloppy and him slowly becoming more confident and in control of his work. There are some twists and turns that are obvious as well as some threads that feel extraneous. This could have been a leaner and slicker thriller, but it is still an engaging journey. There are a few characters that stand out that bring some depth to the film. 

Does The Amateur stand out from a filmmaking standpoint? This has that greyed and dour espionage feel that films like The Bourne Identity set in motion in the early 2000s. Long gone are the big colorful early Bond films and this has a grounded and gritty feel to it. There are some inspired elements to the visual storytelling. One, there are some sleek editing moments that slide jarring shots of Heller’s trauma into his brain (and the audience’s view). This allows the audience to get into Heller’s headspace. Then there are moments where Rachel Brosnahan’s Sarah (Heller’s deceased wife) slides into scenes with a fluidity that reflect how Heller struggles to focus on his present because his past infiltrates them. This was an inspired choice by Hawes. You can feel his work on Slow Horses and Black Mirror shining through with this dark and gritty world crafted around Heller. This is a competently directed film that has some solid action (at times overly edited) and strong tension.

How does Rami Malek embody this unexpected hero in Heller? Malek embodies the awkwardness of nervousness of a man who is branching out into a place he is not comfortable in. You feel the emotion and the weight of his trauma on his shoulders. One of the most satisfying elements of the film is seeing Malek posture and physicality evolving as his confidence grows. Brosnahan is so charismatic and charming in her fleeting moments that she allows the audience to really feel Sarah’s connection with Charlie (and we empathize with his journey). Fishburne is a strong and confident presence with plenty of personality that makes for a strong addition to the film. The real unexpected standout is Caitriona Balfe who portrays a widowed operative who has a beautiful and moving connection with Heller. Her narrative presence feels telegraphed and it makes it harder to accept her fate because Balfe just brings so much genuine emotion and richness to her limited role. Jon Bernthal is charismatic as ever even if his role does not feel as essential to the film. Colt McCallany screams “don’t trust me” but he delivers on this role perfectly. A nice surprise is the talented Michael Stuhlbarg who shines in a small role too. 

Will The Amateur stand out in the espionage thriller genre? This film is a little too familiar and convoluted for it to really rise to the top of this challenging genre. Hawes’ confident direction does some heavy lifting and delivers a strong and grounded feel. Malek is a great lead and is supported well by this talented cast. There are a few great characters who make this experience even better along with some strong suspenseful elements.