The Amateur Review: Witty Tech, Wasted Potential, Tangled Plot

Introduction

The cinematic landscape is always ripe for a fresh take on the espionage thriller, and The Amateur arrived with considerable buzz. Starring the ever-charismatic Rami Malek, the film promised a departure from the usual gun-toting hero, instead offering a protagonist who wields intellect and technology as his primary weapons. The premise itself—a grief-stricken CIA tech analyst, whose wife is brutally murdered, blackmails his superiors to embark on a personal quest for vengeance—ignited curiosity. Audiences were primed for a cerebral, tech-driven revenge tale, eager to see how Malek's character would navigate the treacherous world of spies and assassins with his unique skill set. The stage was set for a potentially groundbreaking entry into the genre, one that prioritized wits over brute force.

The Lead Dynamic & The Action

Rami Malek truly anchors The Amateur with a performance that feels tailor-made for his talents. As the unassuming IT guy thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse, he perfectly embodies the character's internal conflict: a man who is decidedly "not a killer" but is forced to become one. Malek excels at portraying the raw vulnerability and the burgeoning resolve of someone using his technological know-how to exact revenge. The film finds its stride in moments where his character outsmarts his adversaries, fabricating ingenious devices on the fly, reminiscent of a modern-day MacGyver. These sequences are genuinely engaging, showcasing his character's unique approach to combat and espionage. Even those who initially doubt his capabilities are left impressed, acknowledging a grudging respect for his unexpected effectiveness. While the action isn't constant, the film does deliver one or two intense chase scenes that provide a much-needed jolt of adrenaline, momentarily elevating the stakes. However, a peculiar training exercise involving Laurence Fishburne challenging Malek's character to shoot him feels less like a profound character moment and more like a contrived plot device, drawing a rather clunky comparison between the inability to kill and the inability to code.

Cameos, Nostalgia & Narrative Stakes

One of The Amateur's most significant stumbles lies in its sprawling cast and convoluted narrative. As an adaptation, it seems determined to include every character from its source material, leading to a tangled web where many individuals feel underdeveloped and ultimately inconsequential. Brief appearances by talents like Rachel Brosnahan and Danny Sapani are fleeting, leaving little impact. The most egregious example is the character portrayed by Holt McCallany, whose presence feels more like a glorified cameo than a vital part of the story, almost as if he was squeezed in between other filming commitments. This overpopulation of characters, coupled with a lack of meaningful screen time, prevents any genuine emotional connection from forming. The film attempts to build emotional stakes around these relationships, but they consistently fall flat because the audience isn't given enough reason to care. Furthermore, the decision to showcase one of the film's "coolest" death scenes prominently in the trailer is a baffling misstep, robbing the theatrical experience of a crucial moment of surprise and impact.

Tone, Direction & Creative Freedom

Under the direction of James Hawes, The Amateur struggles with a fundamental identity crisis. It attempts to straddle the line between a "fun, kill-happy revenge murder spy thriller" and a more "cerebral spy thriller," but ultimately succeeds at neither. This tonal inconsistency results in a film that feels disjointed and unsure of its own purpose. The pacing suffers, with noticeable editing jumps that can be jarring and leave significant gaps in the narrative. A particularly perplexing sequence sees the protagonist contemplating a situation in a hotel lobby, only for the very next cut to inexplicably place him on a rooftop, leaving viewers to wonder how he arrived there. This lack of narrative cohesion contributes to the overall impression that the film is a patchwork of ideas, "stitched together by parts from other movies that did it better." The experience often feels less like a meticulously crafted theatrical event and more like a product designed with a streaming release in mind, a trend that, for many critics, signals a depressing shift in filmmaking priorities. The film's two-hour runtime also feels unnecessarily extended, suggesting that a tighter, 90-minute edit could have significantly improved its focus and impact, transforming it from a forgettable experience into something more concise and potent.

The Final Verdict

The Amateur arrives with a compelling premise and a standout performance from Rami Malek, who capably portrays a man out of his depth yet driven by an unyielding desire for vengeance. His tech-driven ingenuity provides some of the film's most engaging and unique moments. However, the film's ambition is ultimately undermined by a convoluted plot, an excess of underdeveloped characters, and a struggle to maintain a consistent tone. While it offers a few engaging instances of clever problem-solving and intense chases, these bright spots are often overshadowed by narrative shortcuts and a pervasive feeling of being a "dollar store" version of superior spy thrillers. It's a film that had the potential to be truly unique but instead feels like a collection of familiar tropes, making it a largely forgettable entry in the genre. For those seeking a truly immersive and original spy thriller, The Amateur might leave you wanting more, ultimately feeling like a missed opportunity for a truly distinctive cinematic experience.