The Amateur

Synopsis

After the death of his wife in a terrorist attack, CIA analyst attempts to put the pieces together and decides that he is going to take justice into his own hands.

Review

This is a great movie. I am not really sure where the critics get off in giving this such low scores. Remi Malek costume design is the epitome of what a wall-walker at the CIA/NSA looks like. Ungodly smart, head always on the next problem, can find solutions to just about anything, but with one major difference. He is very capable.

I find this movie to be the blending of Mr. Beam, The Mechanic and The Bourne Movies. You have a dude who is a spy and understands the spy game, but because he is a bit more squeamish, he uses inventive ways to kill people like blowing up a floating pool. I think that happened in Mechanic Resurrection too actually.

The biggest thing that really does pull you out of reality sometimes is the complete buffoonery of the CIA Special Activities Director played by Holt McCallany. There are so many things wrong with his actions and about how he was hide his location such as making changes to the software that showed what CCTV cameras he was on from outside the CIA, that just is frustrating.

My Rating

This is based on a book by the same name that came out in 1981. So attempting to read this book to get more information about the logical issues in this movie is a non-started because the book for sure didn't have any of that technology. All of that aside, I really enjoyed this movie. I saw it in theaters when it first came out and then I saw it again with family. It plays out real well, doesn't stretch the imagination too much, and tells and entertaining story. Giving this an 8.

Parental Rating

There is some language, but since it was kept at PG-13, the language is limited and short. With that so is the violence, well for the most part. The deaths are mostly off camera with the exception of one which is very much CGI enhanced so it doesn't feel too crazy. I know my mom would not be crazy about the idea of someone exacting revenge for her death, I think she would understand for the purposes of this movie and enjoy watching it with my Dad. He would really like this movie. It has everything he wants. Approved by both.

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