The Amateur (2025) stars Rami Malek as a cryptographer-turned-vigilante in this taut action thriller based on Robert Littell’s novel. Read the full review of this suspense-filled spy drama.
⭐ BMR Rating: 8/10
Genre: Action Thriller | Language: English | Runtime: 124 minutes | Director: James Hawes
📝 Synopsis
The Amateur is a modern spy thriller that reinvents the genre through emotional stakes, psychological tension, and tight action sequences. Based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel, the film follows Charles Heller (Rami Malek), a CIA cryptographer who loses his fiancée in a terrorist bombing. When the agency refuses to act on the intelligence he deciphers, Heller takes matters into his own hands.
Fueled by grief and revenge, Heller—who has no field experience—goes rogue, hunting down the terrorists responsible for the attack. But his amateur status in a world of hardened operatives leads to unexpected consequences. As layers of betrayal unfold, Heller is forced to question not just who the enemy is, but what he’s truly fighting for.
🎭 Performances
Rami Malek delivers a standout performance, bringing an intense emotional depth to a character not usually seen in traditional action roles. His portrayal of Charles Heller is nuanced—vulnerable, brilliant, and driven by a deeply human sense of loss. Malek embodies a man out of his depth but determined to survive, making him a compelling and relatable protagonist.
Rachel Brosnahan plays a layered intelligence officer with ambiguous loyalties, adding complexity to the unfolding narrative. Caitríona Balfe as Heller’s CIA colleague brings gravity and empathy to the screen, offering a quiet contrast to the chaos around her.
Veterans like Laurence Fishburne and Michael Stuhlbarg elevate every scene they’re in, lending the story credibility and intensity. Fishburne plays a high-ranking CIA handler who toes the line between protector and puppet master, while Stuhlbarg’s morally flexible agency executive is equal parts menacing and magnetic.
🎬 Direction & Screenplay
James Hawes, known for his television work (Black Mirror, Slow Horses), makes a confident leap to feature films. His direction is assured and mature, grounding the film in character-driven tension rather than flashy action. Hawes leans into the paranoid, cerebral tone of Cold War-era thrillers while infusing it with modern urgency.
The screenplay by Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) and Gary Spinelli (American Made) is both smart and emotionally driven. While staying faithful to the source material’s core, it reimagines the setting and geopolitical backdrop for today’s world, addressing themes like government overreach, surveillance, and personal vengeance.
🎥 Cinematography & Editing
Martin Ruhe’s cinematography captures a cool, muted visual palette that mirrors the bleak world of espionage. The urban settings—whether in Washington D.C., Eastern Europe, or secret safehouses—are shot with tension and texture. There’s an intentional claustrophobia in tight frames and surveillance-style camera work that enhances the film’s suspense.
Jonathan Amos, best known for Baby Driver, handles the editing with precision. The pacing keeps you on edge, balancing slower psychological scenes with bursts of kinetic action. Clocking in at 124 minutes, the film feels tight, never overstaying its welcome.
🎶 Music & Sound
Volker Bertelmann’s score complements the film’s tone perfectly—low, pulsating, and eerie. Instead of dominating the scenes, the music subtly elevates the tension. It’s especially effective during chase sequences and confrontations, when silence is strategically broken by jarring strings or ambient noise.
✅ Strengths
- 🎭 Rami Malek’s gripping performance anchors the film emotionally
- 🧠 Intelligent writing that prioritizes psychology over spectacle
- 🎬 Atmospheric direction by James Hawes
- 📸 Moody cinematography that adds realism
- 🎵 Subtle, suspenseful score that enhances the thriller elements
❌ Weaknesses
- 🧩 Some viewers may find the plot slow-burning in the first half
- 🔁 Familiar genre tropes occasionally surface (rogue agent, CIA politics)
- 📖 Those expecting a traditional action-packed spy flick may find it more cerebral than explosive
🎯 Final Verdict
The Amateur is a fresh and emotionally charged entry in the action thriller genre. It proves that thrillers don’t need to rely solely on car chases and explosions to be effective. Instead, it leans into its strengths: a compelling lead, a morally gray world, and storytelling that challenges viewers to think.
What sets this film apart is its commitment to character over cliché. Rami Malek’s portrayal of a grieving cryptographer-turned-field operative is both heartbreaking and heroic. Director James Hawes crafts a stylish, modern espionage tale that manages to be intimate and globally relevant at the same time.
Whether you’re a fan of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or Bourne Identity, The Amateur finds a middle ground — combining cerebral thrills with emotional gravity.
🍿 Watch It If You Like:
- Espionage dramas like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold or The Courier
- Slow-burn thrillers with smart characters
- Rami Malek’s emotionally driven performances
- Stories involving rogue agents, revenge, and moral dilemmas
BMR Rating: ⭐ 8/10
A sharp, sophisticated spy thriller that trades gunfire for gravitas, led by a powerful Rami Malek.