Movie Review: The Amateur (2024) – A Slow Spy Thriller That Misses the Mark
Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, and Laurence Fishburne
Directed by: James Hawes
Genre: Thriller, Spy Drama
Release Date: 2024
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat spy thriller, “The Amateur” might not be it. Despite an intriguing premise and a talented cast, the film struggles with pacing, a meandering plot, and an underwhelming payoff.
Plot Summary
Rami Malek plays Charles Heller, a quiet CIA code analyst who lives a peaceful life with his wife, Wendy Heller (played by Rachel Brosnahan). Charles isn’t your typical action hero—he works behind a desk, decoding classified information and staying far away from field operations.
That all changes when Wendy attends a journalism conference overseas and is tragically killed in a terrorist attack. Grief-stricken and furious, Charles is determined to track down her killers. However, when he approaches the CIA for help, his superiors—including CIA Deputy Director Moore (played by Laurence Fishburne)—tell him that the case is “too personal” and insist on handling it without his involvement.
Feeling betrayed, Charles uses his access to top-secret files to blackmail the CIA into training him for fieldwork. He demands to be included in the mission. Although he’s clearly out of his depth, he begins intensive (and very unconvincing) training with Mason (played by Holt McCallany), a seasoned operative. These scenes are supposed to show his transformation from a desk analyst to a field agent—but unfortunately, they drag on far too long and lack emotional or physical intensity.
As Charles starts tracking down the terrorists, he uncovers layers of conspiracy within the government. Along the way, he exposes disturbing secrets about the CIA’s actions—hinting that his wife’s death might be more than just a random act of terror.
What Worked (and What Didn’t)
The premise of “The Amateur” is compelling: an ordinary man driven by love and loss seeks justice in a world far more dangerous than he’s prepared for. Rami Malek gives a committed performance, but the script doesn’t do him any favors. His character is never fully believable as a man who suddenly becomes capable of outsmarting spies and terrorists after minimal training.
The pacing is one of the movie’s biggest problems. The first act takes too long to set up, and the middle drags with repetitive scenes of Charles fumbling through training. The action scenes are sparse and underwhelming, and the cinematography—while sleek—feels cold and uninspired. The color palette and music further contribute to a dull, overly serious atmosphere.
There are a few attempts at humor, mostly playing off Charles’ lack of experience in the field, but they’re too infrequent to shift the tone. The movie tries to balance being a serious political thriller with moments of levity, but it doesn’t commit fully to either.
Final Thoughts
Overall, “The Amateur” had the potential to be a gripping revenge thriller, but it falls flat due to slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a script that tries to be both emotional and conspiratorial without fully delivering either. It felt more like a slow-burn Netflix original than a theatrical release.
If you enjoy spy thrillers with heavy political undertones and don’t mind a slower pace, this might work for you. But for many viewers, it may feel like a missed opportunity.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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