User reviews

The Amateur had the potential to be a gripping thriller, especially with such a strong lead actor at the center of it all. Unfortunately, despite his undeniable talent, he felt underutilized in a script that lacked depth and nuance. The dialogue was particularly weak, often falling flat and leaving the actor with little to work with emotionally or dramatically.

The story seemed intended to immerse us in the character's frustration and grief as he searched for those responsible for his wife's death. However, this emotional core never quite landed. The relationship between the main character and his wife wasn't developed enough for us to truly feel the weight of the loss. The early scenes meant to establish their bond felt forced and lacked any real passion, which made it harder to invest in his motivations later on.

What's more frustrating is how much time the film spent on elements that didn't serve the story, while barely touching on those that could have added emotional depth and weight. The pacing and focus felt misplaced, detracting from what could have been a much more powerful narrative.

On the technical side, the cinematography was quite strong - it's clearly a well-shot film. However, the color grading choices didn't always work in its favor. Many scenes were overly dark, making it difficult to follow what was happening, at least on the cinema screen where I watched it.

Overall, The Amateur is a decent choice if you're looking for something to fill a lazy Sunday afternoon. But it's not a film that lingers or leaves a strong impact. With better writing and emotional grounding, it could have been so much more.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the cinema watching The Amateur. It should have been a short series maybe 4-6 Episodes as opposed to a feature film. I think 2 hours did not leave enough time for proper character development. For example the lead speaks about his great friend played by Lawerence Fisburn in a scene at the end of the film. We never really saw how the two developed that bond as there are barely 2-3 scenes with them together throughout the movie. It was fun though and I feel more so because I watched it at the Theatre. Will definitely give it a rewatch once I can on my couch and recommend anyone who just wants to kick back to give it a watch.

We've been bombarded with vengeance movies lately. I enjoy a good vengeance movie, providing the revenge is justified and exacted only on those who deserve it (therefore definitely NOT any of the John Wick movies with its kill counts well into the hundreds!)

In 'The Amateur', Rami Malek stars as Charlie Heller, who works in Decryption Analysis for the CIA. When his wife Sarah is killed in a terrorist attack in London and the CIA refuses to intervene, Charlie takes matters into his own hands. Being the genius puzzle solver he is, Charlie utilizes surveillance cameras and advanced technology to identify the four terrorists.

Charlie discovers his Director, Alex Moore, to be a rogue agent, and blackmails him to give him special CIA training. Trained by Col. Robert Henderson, Charlie soon realizes he would never be able to kill someone at gunpoint. Instead, he decides to use his knowledge to his advantage. But now, Moore and Henderson are on his trail to eliminate 'loose ends'.

Charlie meets Inquiline, whose husband worked for the KGB, but was killed. She continues to provide information to the CIA under a code name. They team up to bring the terrorists to justice. Unlike many cliched movies, this does not develop into a romance, which I found refreshing and more realistic.

The film dishes up a lot of information and it is so exciting that there's hardly time to blink! A Good script and solid performances elevates 'The Amateur' above so many other vengeance movies. I did find some of his measures maybe a bit too extreme, but in general this is a believable and thoroughly entertaining action thriller.

"The Amateur" is a decent but unremarkable spy thriller that flirts with greatness without ever fully reaching it. The premise is intriguing, and there are some genuinely engaging sequences that show the potential the film had. Unfortunately, the overall execution is a bit clunky.

The script feels uneven-some parts are compelling, while others fall into predictable territory with dialogue that doesn't always land. The pacing suffers from occasional lulls, and certain character motivations could have used more development. Still, the central performance does carry some emotional weight, and there are flashes of tension that work well.

It's not without its strengths: the cinematography is solid, the score adds the right atmosphere, and there are a few scenes that manage to stand out. But by the end, "The Amateur" leaves the impression of a thriller that plays things a little too safe.

Watchable, with moments of quality-but it doesn't quite rise above average.

7.25/10 STARS - Saw this was based on a book and now I'm interested to listen to the audiobook (narrated by Scott Brick, who is a fantastic narrator). The movie itself was pretty good, and I enjoyed it. There were some issues here and there with conveniences when it came to his ability to get things done and some moments where suspension of disbelieve was required. Perhaps this was partly because it felt like there was a lot omitted along the way, not clearly showing us how he was able to accomplish what he did. Maybe some more scenes showing him having to figure out how to get to where he needed to be in order to sabotage something would have been good (like in the swimming pool scene). But since this movie was already more than two hours long, I suppose it might be a bit much to show us everything. I liked that we got a good feel for the main characters intense grief over the loss of his wife and his determination to make everyone pay - yet totally out of his element when it came to the brutality of face-to-face killing. Video review will be available on my YouTube channel shortly.

Mission impossible/James bond esque elements so it's nothing we haven't seen before but it's still very much worth watching, we were thoroughly entertained for the just over 2 hours. I'd give it a 7.5.

I like the angle they went with the tech nerd it made it uniquely interesting instead of the typical assassin killer type. The pacing was good, the events unfolding were logical and also intriguing by showing the CIA capabilities of surveillance and information, the music was awesome along with the cinematics. The acting was pretty standard, nothing to ride home about but some of these reviews are pretty harsh for no good reason.

All in all it's a good movie and worth a theater experience, or just wait till it's on streaming I'll be a great movie for a night in.

"Amateur" starts off feeling pretty standard, but it grows on you. Think early 2000s spy thrillers-nerdier, more grounded, and rough around the edges. It doesn't try to reinvent the genre, but it leans into its simplicity with confidence. The pacing is fine-not too fast, not too slow-and while the story isn't particularly complex, it holds your attention. Rami Malek brings a steady, watchable presence, and the ending wraps things up in a way that feels satisfying.it's a solid, no-frills spy flick. One of those movies you watch without big expectations and walk away pleasantly surprised. Totally worth a shot on a chill night.

I just saw The Amateur and I was pleasantly surprised. I am not a fan of a lot of the non-stop action movies that leave one feeling as if they had been shot out a cannon for 90 minutes, and this movie wasn't like that. There was, I thought, a nice build up that gave you a sense of the character and that he was an unlikely choice as an international assassin. I the thought the use of suspense was good, ratcheting things up as it went along, and I was surprised and intrigued by some of the twists and escapes. I haven't seen a lot of Rami Malek, but I really liked him in this role. I always like Lawrence Fishburn, and he was good, as were a couple of heavies that Charlie outwits in the end. All in all, a good movie, one I was glad to have seen. If they make a sequel, I will likely see that as well.

Plot

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.

Cast

Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne deliver as they always do. Jon Bernthal is wasted, Adrian Martinez is always a welcome addition.

Verdict

The Amateur was the wife's choice, if she hadn't picked it I'd have likely never have given it a chance. It looks from the cover like a generic straight to DVD action flick, but I can confidently say I was mistaken.

The Amateur is a thriller with a level of intelligence, alas not as much as it attempts. The plot is less predictable than I expected and that's something, I loved the global wanderings and appreciated a lot of elements integrated but for every couple of things it does well it does one poorly and prevents the movie from being memorable, entertaining or quite frankly logical.

It entertains then it bores, it intrigues then it frustrates and all the while I'm left feeling like many scenes needed additional time but it rushed onto the next instead.

The Amateur could have been an enjoyable intelligent affair, the end result is a rushed mish-mash of ideas that badly falls short.

Rants

No spoilers here, but did you not expect a certain character to still be alive? I thought that was going to be the big twist. I mean come on, the general rule of thumb in movies and tv shows is if you don't actually see the character die then they're not dead. Well, I guess they were. I guess I'm glad as I thought that was predictable, but still it's the unwritten rule!

The Good

Solid cast Some solid ideas Loved the setting(s)

The Bad

Jon Bernthal may as well have not been in the film Badly rushed in areas Some poor writing decisions.

And a new franchise is born. Falling somewhere between Jason, Bourne and James Bond, with a dash of the tech guy from Mission impossible, Remi Malik's The Amateur is a wonderfully entertaining and intelligent thriller, with extraordinarily strong supporting acts from just about everybody else involved, including an excellent Lawrence Fishburne, really on form here in a part which gives him real substance for once.

In a year, which has seen its fair share of lack Gloucester movies, this is a real crowd, pleaser, and no doubt we do well in box office as well as on home screen screens. Malik is exceptional believable, and as usual, evoking real emotion.

I give 'the amateur' a 4.5/10.

1. No character build regarding the relationship to the wife. The only thing we know is that they're married and that's all the motivation for revenge he needs. They have a 2-3 min scene together in the beginning which doesn't expand their relationship at all or give us background on how long they are married, where they meet, why they love each other, etc.

2. This film is littered with traps being set by our hero with little to no sequence of it being built, designed or put together. They just appear already ensemble, programmed and ready to work flawlessly the first time.

3. My biggest issue is this is an overly scored movie. Ever scene is scored to the emotion it wants you to feel. I compare this to a laugh track on a comedy sitcom telling you when to laugh, in this case, when to feel sad, or scared or thrilled but visually it's not there.

Overall this is a little step brother version of The Enemy of the State or Eagle Eye.

The Amateur

I really enjoyed this movie, it was a thriller of sorts, with a nerdy CIA analyst, played by Remi Malik, who was a kind of espionage savant deciphering complex data and keeping all our lives safe from the baddies.

The contradiction of this weedy antihero who had to step up to the plate to right a great wrong, was really quite inspirational. On paper this may have looked crazy casting but it was at times deeply moving in the characters grief and desperation. Expertly acted and great to see!

The script was tight and there were some great action sequences and the balance between the action and narrative was just right.

The movie was let down in the last 10 minutes when we just had a ridiculous scenario that ready was beyond incredulous! This was such a shame!

The whole cast turned it out but at best this is a firm 7 outta 10, if they contrived a better ending this would have been an 8.5, it is well worth watching for Malik alone.

Hey Hollywood -- we need more movies like these. Not a remake. Not a sequel. Dramatic. Something ANYBODY over the age of 12 could be taken to, AND enjoy. This is the first decent movie I've seen in months. I'd go to the theaters every week, if there was something to see.

Back to the movie. Interesting premise. Not a whodunnit. More of a "howsHegonnadoit". Acting on the whole was was fair -- but the main plot characters kept it going well. Remind Malik, Caitríona Balfe, Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan -- all gave great performances.

The pacing was good -- knowing how many revenge subplots were going to happen kept the movie moving without me checking my watch.

Thank you for an original movie.

Talk about one of the most accurate titles, except...he's not 100%.

A REAL Amateur wouldn't be able to do half of what he did. Maybe not even 20%. He was really a CIA Nerd with lotza brains.

But, this was really Jason Bourne all over again, with someone not as skilled. Just partially there. Heck, even the music was close to Bourne's.

CIA Computer Geek Charlie Heller's lovely wife whom you KNOW he's designed with is murdered in a London Terrorist attack. Heller just wants his bosses to do the right thing: murder the murderers. When they won't, he sets off to do the deed in a revenge plot from someone who can't pull the trigger, but can do so much worse.

I generally don't watch trailers, but I did happen to catch this one and it did spark my interest. It did seem very formulaic, clichéd and predictable...and then I saw the movie. Remy Malek already won an Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody and frankly, deserves another for this role.

He really was THAT good. Everyone else, standard and did their role. Remy gave it his all. Never once did I not believe ALL that he was going through with his plot for revenge against his wife's murderers.

And for him to remind me of one of my favorite action/spy trilogies of all time (The Bourne Identity/Supremacy/Ultimatum) that's a welcome surprise. I actually found myself wishing this was part of Jason Bourne's universe.

This was SUPER SMART, advanced, intelligent and still simple enough to follow along. It's certainly not as fast-paced/action packed as the Bourne movies, but it feels more real than they did.

I don't think this movie will make too much. And that's a shame. We need more movies like this produced every year.

***

Final Thoughts: The AMC Bartender asked me if I was seeing Minecraft and I said, "No. I might be a bit too old for that." To which, she replied, "Oh, yeah by a long-slide." Ouch. Granted, the demographics apparently are for toddlers so no offense taken.

"The Amateur" is a Spy Thriller with an extremely promising setup, following a CIA Desk Agent named Charlie, grieving his wife after her murder, turning vigilante to hunt down her killers. This premise is enough to bring audiences into theaters, however, the writers of this movie miss crucial steps in the early parts of the story, thus failing to properly earn the audience's sympathy for Charlie's wife as well as thirst for his revenge. While the rest of the plot is solid and entertaining, in hindsight, "The Amateur" as a film on screen is yet another vigilante revenge story that could have soared, but chose to crawl.

The Amateur is, in my opinion, a pretty solid movie. It reminded me at times of The Usual Suspects-not in terms of copying, but in how the plot slowly reveals itself and keeps you guessing. The use of color, the dialogue, and the camera work all feel intentional and well thought out. You can tell this wasn't rushed.

What I appreciated most is that it doesn't try to push an agenda. No overdone messaging, no distractions-just a straightforward story and a well-built intrigue. There's a real connection between the main character and the plot, and you're not spoon-fed everything, which makes the viewing experience more engaging. Again, The Usual Suspects came to mind because you don't always see what's coming.

I'm not the biggest fan of the lead actor, mostly because I found his speech a bit hard to follow at times-he tends to mumble-but he still fits the role well. He has that "everyman" look that makes him easy to relate to. The supporting cast is also strong, and the overall production feels solid-not cheap or thrown together.

This is the kind of movie we rarely see anymore: story-driven, clever, and respectful of the viewer's intelligence. I liked the trailer, and for once, the movie actually delivered.

I mostly enjoyed this grown up thriller.

It felt a little long. I miss the days of 90 minute movies. At 2 hours it felt like it was trying to be epic but not quite managing it.

There are various stereotypical characters of the like we have seen many times in this type of action / spy / secret agent movie.

The storyline is far from original too. But its done quite well.

There are some clever touches enacted by the central character that I enjoyed that added some twists into the otherwise fairly predictable story. The central character was not entirely likeable as presented. I didn't buy some of the emotional scenes.

They could have showed more background - hard to describe further without spoilers.

I've seen it described as Bourne-esque, or in the style of Mission Impossible. I don't think its either of those things.

As the title says, the Amateur is a decent enough film. The story is okay and the characters are interesting enough to carry the story. It's a pretty standard revenge flick with some decent characters and action and thankfully manages to avoid the ever popular "ex-special forces protagonist hellbent on justice" cliche.

The use of technology is interesting but ultimately nonsense - with countless things that are either impossible or which would take a very long time to do, happening immediately or when the plot needs to.

Also, the main characters seems able to get his hands on whatever he needs - especially explosives - in foreign countries where he doesn't speak the language with little or no problems.

Lastly, the weapon handling in this film would make Alec Baldwin blush. People are encouraged to point loaded weapons at each other, they regularly flag each other and are seemingly unable incapable of picking up a gun without putting their finger on the trigger.