Code Name Emperor

A master builder tear down an empire from top to bottom in this delightful spy thriller. Thorough precise work by Luis Tosar brings a veteran presence to the movie. This is the kind of thriller that does work without the the common fire works and car chases. It's a rarity to come across a plot with true cinematic value. Code name Emperor's main character Juan is the kind of whistleblowers our world need. In a world where men and women made into puppets using data or the secrets Juan's character finds empathy and that emotions are carefully performed. The societal and political commentary is excellent. Code Name Emperor in these regards is an excellent movie.

It's not usually how spy movies are treated. This one takes a different tack in exploring the subject of political blackmail and manipulation by means of electronic surveillance. It's an engaging story without any dull moment as pacing is just right.

Luis Tosar is his usual great self as a talented actor. What might be surprising is casting an otherwise unknown actress with Filipino descent. And she acquits herself admirably. May this vehicle help Alexandra Masangkay's film career. The producers might have included her for the sake of inclusivity but they did not err in their choice or gambit, if you like.

This is a thoughtful film. Don't expect a surfeit of action sequences ala James Bond or Jason Bourne. But it drives home an important point: the things men do to exploit the weakness of others for their nefarious ends.

"rara avis" in the current panorama of Spanish cinema. In my opinion the interpretation of Miguel Rellán is a little off the hook, I expected something more consistent. Overall, I think it's a good movie.

Follows Juan (Luís Tosar) , an agent working for the intelligence services, who also reports to a parallel unit involved in illegal activities. In order to gain access to the chalet of a couple involved in arms trafficking, he approaches Wendy (Alexandra Masangkay), the Filipino maid who lives in the house, and establishes a relationship with her that will become increasingly more complex. Along the way, Juan finds himself involved with the Filipino servant, who works for the suspicious people she is watching. Things get complicated when he falls in love with the girl. In parallel, Juan carries out other "unofficial" jobs to protect the interests of the most powerful elites in the country, who have now set their eyes on Ángel González (Denis Gómez), a seemingly unremarkable politician in whose tranquil life he must search for flaws or invent them , and that's why Juan puts him a bait, his friend Marta (Georgina Amorós ) who has a dark past .

An interesting thriller with its ups and downs, containing action, suspense, intrigue, twists and turns. It is a not very credible story without any memorable moment that works in uneven way and pleasantly does not abuse testosterone. An intelligent spy movie that keeps the viewer's attention, here more is used of the acts of surveillance carried out by the spies against their victims and constant use of the computer rather than resorting to endless action scenes or explosions. It doesn't start well at all and it takes a while to get going, in an intrigue that seems quite complex but has a catchy last half hour in which its multiple threads end up coming together. Paced with certain rhythm and shot in a somewhat disjointed way, it manages to capture our attention throughout its footage but also gives the sensation of lacking something to tell that would give it a perfect unity beyond its continuous surprises. Luis Tosar gives a good acting as Juan, he's a lonely spy who works for the secret services. He's finely acompanied by a decent cast, such as: Alexandra Masangkay, Georgina Amorós, Denis Gómez, Laura Domínguez, María Botto, Juan Carlos Vellido and special mention for Miguel Rellán secret service chief.

In Código Emperador(2022) stands out the cinematography with plenty of visual style by Pablo Rosso. This expert cameraman is an expert on sinister atmospheres, as proved in ¨Venus¨, ¨Voces¨, ¨Musa¨, Verónica¨, ¨Summer camp¨, ¨Quién a hierro mata¨, saga ¨Rec¨, among others. As well as thrilling and atmospheric musical score by Elba Fernández and Xavi Font. The motion picture was professionally directed by Jorge Coira, his staging is effective and knows how to keep the viewer awake by shooting with solvency and constantly jumping from scene to avoid tiring; however, the various stories aren't well interwoven . He is a good craftsman who has made several TV episodes from known series as ¨Piratas¨ , ¨Pelotas¨ , ¨RIS Cientifica¨ , ¨El Comisario¨ , ¨Padre Casares¨ , ¨Hierro¨ and ¨Se quien eres¨ . And directing ocassionally for cinema as ¨El Año de la Garrapata¨, ¨18 comidas¨ and his last one : ¨Me he hecho viral¨(2023) . Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable .

Código Emperador succeeds in creating an interesting spy plot, but fails to generate tension, deviating a few times from the main story to deal with side missions that do not add to the plot.

Juan is an intelligence agent, a detective, as he puts it, but, at least to me, it is not clear if he is an official agent of Spanish Intelligence or if he is a private detective who ends up working for Intelligence. The fact is that Juan is an expert in espionage for a corrupt organization and ends up getting too involved in a case.

The premise is the classic story of the spy who lets his human side surface. His work begins to flog him morally, which leads him to accept risks he once avoided. And of course, this doesn't go unnoticed.

Some minor plots are only for character building. These are acceptable plots, but they deviate from the focus of the two main plots, stories A and B, that make up the film.

The outcome ends up disappointing for its brevity. Many holes remain open, instigating a possible sequel; but with the film's success, it looks like Code Emperador will be a one-time entry.