ayr, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 05/03/2018 10:45 PMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: After suffering a career-ending injury, a Russian ballerina moves into the world of seductive spying.

    I am always up for a new Jennifer Lawrence film, whatever the story. Ever since breaking through the blockbuster world in The Hunger Games, Lawrence has gone for some very ambitious projects whilst still being on the mainstream scene.

    Her most recent project was in the very divisive 'Mother!', which I enjoyed immensely and became one of my favourites of last year. After seeing that, I was confident Lawrence would be up for doing any outlandish story.

    With this one, the trailers did suggest the potential for some aspects to be out of the norm. The early buzz from America suggested many talking points, which just intrigued me even more.

    I'm still a bit unsure as to what to make of this film. Thankfully in terms of the talking points I was anticipated, it certainly had me thinking.

    I think Jennifer Lawrence was as captivating and committed as you could be with this type of character she was given. She really goes all-out with this one. However, her Russian accent was a bit inconsistent. But as her accent was a subtle one, it never felt like a major negative.

    I still love it that Lawrence continues to choose very challenging films, whether or not they work out in the box office sales. I will still be interested in what she does next.

    Joel Edgerton was pretty solid in this one. He's a very capable actor that I liked in most of his films. This was nothing exceptional, but not one to criticise over.

    I was happy to see Matthias Schoenaerts lead the way in the supporting roles in this, and he continues to show that he is a great actor that I don't think is used enough, especially in big films.

    Charlotte Rampling had a scary stone-cold presence about her throughout the short amount of screen--time she had.

    Sadly, I felt Jeremy Irons was under-used in this for someone of his stature. He has a more inconsistent accent then Lawrence and I'm not sure why he was cast in this to be honest. I could probably say the same for Ciaran Hinds, who is this even less.

    I think the films strongest aspect came from its tone and production design. It has a pretty stylish look, especially in its action and violence, which was accompanied well by its cinematography.

    The level of brutality in the violence and awkward moments in certain scenes would almost make you think you were watching a Paul Verhoeven erotic thriller. You could say it's like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy meets Showgirls, which is a comparison I never thought would be created.

    Thankfully, I felt none of the violence felt glorified. But I would not surprise if some pathetic articles are written complaining about that content in our age of trying to not offend anyone and everyone.

    With saying that, it's biggest strength could also be its strongest negative. This is what is going to make or break the crowd.

    A couple of other problems to speak of, is I think a lot of people will be unsure of where the central characters allegiances lie. That alone could be hard for a lot of people to get invested with the rest of the story.

    It also remind me a lot of those Cold War spy thrillers, which a lot of them had slow pacing and it shows in its unnecessary 2hrs 20mins duration. However, it only started to lag for me as we got into the second half. So if the first half can grip you, then you should be fine with the rest.

    Those parts are what is preventing me from giving this a strong review. However, the film itself is good enough to fairly respectable rating.

    The first half is pretty solid. It opens up well, the story moves along nicely and it sets you up well for the second half. After that, the momentum started to slow down. Thankfully the ending had some nice twists and has a solid pay-off.

    I think if the writing department concentrated more on the psychological side of our main characters new origins, then this might be quite a memorable spy thriller that is also a thinking-piece.

    This could make a great book, as I can tell there will be a lot of writing dedicated to the internal thoughts of Lawrence's character.

    But I think the biggest reason for this film to not be as strong as it should be, is that the unsure nature of our main character. We can't tell if we should be supporting her, or if we should be sympathizing, empathizing or something else.

    The story is intriguing, I liked its style and its fearless execution of not holding back on the wince-inducing moments. But to be honest, I think it will be difficult for a lot of people to know which characters to root for at all.

    On an interesting final note, I can see why some people may label this as the origin movie to the Black Widow from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that we'll probably never get.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Ayr / Scotland
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Ayr
Tide Predictions from NTSLF.ORG



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
ayrayr News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
ayr Bathroom Suppliesayr Bathroom Tapsayr Bathroom Furnitureayr Bathroom Showersayr Shower Enclosuresayr Bathsayr L Shaped Bathayr P Shaped Bathayr Wet Roomsayr Bath Screensayr Bath Mixer Tapayr Bidet Tapsayr Toilet Seatsayr Sanitarywareayr Combined Toilet Basinayr Stovesayr Wood Stovesayr Home Stovesayr Cooker Stovesayr Enamel Stovesayr Designer Stovesayr Contemporary Stovesayr Multi Fuel Stovesayr Accounts Softwareayr Sage Softwareayr Sage Line 50ayr Sage Line 200ayr Pegasus Accountsayr Access Accountsayr Car Servicingayr MOTgayr Tyresayr Car Batteryayr Exhaustayr Journalist Jobsayr Reporter Jobsayr Writing Jobsayr Freelance Writerayr Self Employed Jobsayr Franchise Businessayr Franchise Opportunitiesayr Driving Schoolsayr Driving Lessonsayr Driving Testayr Driving Theory Testayr Driving Instruction, 0000 ayr Driving Instructor, 0000 ayr Insolvencyayr Insolvency Serviceayr Insolvency Servicesayr Liquidation Serviceayr Business Recoveryayr Insolvency Practitionerayr Bankruptcy Serviceayr Winding Up Petitionayr Business Financeayr Business Recoveryayr Voluntary Arrangementayr Individual Voluntary Arrangementayr IVAayr Debt Adviceayr Debt Managementayr Company Administrationayr Administrationayr Corporate Recoveryayr Corporate Voluntary Arrangementayr CVAayr Corporate Insolvencyayr Corporate Liquidationayr Members Voluntary Liquidationayr MVLayr Partnership Voluntary Arrangementayr PVAayr Tax Demandayr Invoice Financeayr Bridging Financeayr Vouchersayr Dealsayr Matalanayr Firewoodayr Fire Woodayr Kiln Dried Hardwoodayr Logs For Saleayr Log Suppliesayr Logsayr Firewood Logsayr Seasoned Logsayr Hardwood Logsayr Firewood Suppliersayr Firewood Log Suppliersayr Firewood Dumpy Bagsayr Firewood Cratesayr Cheap Firewoodayr Homefire Logsayr Cheap Firewood Logsayr Kindle Conesayr Pizza Oven Logsayr Heating Oilayr Home Heating Oilayr Red Dieselayr White Dieselayr Kereseneayr Commercial Fuelsayr Calor Gasayr Propane Gasayr Butane Gasayr Heating Gasayr Horse Trainingayr Horse Trainerayr Horse Whispererayr Equine Whispererayr Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithayr Rattan Garden Furnitureayr Rattan Furnitureayr Rattan Sofaayr Rattan Dining Setayr Rattan Directayr Cheap Rattan Furnitureayr Rattan Corner Sofasayr Rattan Day Bedsayr Rattan Sun Loungersayr Rattan Cube Setsayr Rattan Bistro Setsayr Chimeneasayr Firepitsayr Patio Heatersayr Card Payments Processingayr Credit Card Processingayr Merchant Servicesayr Merchant Accountayr Merchant Paymentsayr Card Machinesayr Card Terminalsayr Online Paymentsayr Worldpayayr Bouncy Castlesayr Bouncy Castle Hireayr Garden Trampolinesayr Pramsayr Pushchairsayr Strollersayr Hauck Pramsayr Huackayr Childrens Trampolinesayr Baby Mobilesayr Baby Activity Matsayr Baby Bedroom Furnitureayr Childrens Bedroom Furnitureayr Hygiene Vendingayr Washroom Vendingayr Air Freshenersayr Air Careayr Aerosol Systemsayr Gel Systemsayr Water Savingayr Urinal Water Savingayr Eco Capsayr Sensaflushayr Water Managementayr Urinal Dosingayr Urinal V Screensayr Legionella Risk Assessmentayr Legionaires Bacterialayr Odour Controlayr Odour Eliminationayr Odour Removalayr Airsterilayr Hand Careayr Hand Creamayr Hand Soapayr Hand Washingayr Hand Dryingayr Hand Dryersayr Electric Hand Dryersayr Fast Hand Dryersayr Commercial Hand Dryersayr Energy Efficient Hand Dryersayr Hand Dryer Rentalayr Hand Dryer Salesayr Paper Towelsayr Roller Towelsayr Cotton Roller Towelsayr Blue Roller Towelsayr White Roller Towelsayr Janitorial Suppliesayr Janitorialayr Cleaning Suppliesayr Cleaning Productsayr Cleaning Equipmentayr Office Cleaningayr Home Cleaningayr Debt Recovery Servicesayr Debt Recoveryayr Debt Collectionayr Outsource Credit Controlayr Collection Agencyayr Debt Collection Agencyayr Commercial Canopyayr Steel Canopyayr Bike Shedsayr Bike Storageayr Bicycle Storeayr Bicycle Storageayr Bikes Storeayr Bike Storeayr Outdoor Canopyayr Cycle Sheltersayr Cycle Shedayr Cycle Storageayr Cycle Rackayr Cycle Compoundayr Cycle Solutionsayr Scooter Storageayr Scooter Shelterayr Canopiesayr Canopyayr Play Area Canopyayr Entrance Canopiesayr Entrance Canopyayr Waiting Shelterayr Smoking Shelterayr Parent Waiting Shelterayr Parent Shelterayr Teen Shelterayr Nursery Canopyayr School Canopyayr Play Canopyayr Envirolawnayr Astroturfayr Cheap Astroturfayr Artificial Grassayr Cheap Artificial Grassayr Astro Turfayr Artificial Lawnayr Fake Grassayr Fake Lawnayr Fire Stove Glassayr Heat Resistant Glassayr Fire Glassayr Stove Glassayr Fire Resistant Glassayr Replacement Stove Glassayr Glass For Stovesayr Spill Kitsayr Spill Control Kitsayr Spill Kit Refillsayr Spill Kit Refill GK6ayr Chemical Spill Kitsayr Oil Spill Kitsayr Solar Panelsayr Solar Panels Costayr Solar Heatingayr Solar PVayr Commercial Solarayr Photovoltaicayr Dust Matsayr Entrance Matsayr Reception Matsayr Anti Fatigue Matsayr Floor Matsayr Logo Matsayr Washroom Servicesayr Principal Washroomsayr Washrooms Suppliesayr Washrooms Solutionsayr Sanitary Disposalayr Sanitary Binsayr Sani Binsayr Lady Binsayr Feminine Hygiene Unitsayr Sanitary Waste Disposalayr Sanitary Wasteayr Sanitary Unitsayr Feminine Unitsayr Hygiene Servicesayr Sanitary Bin Supplierayr Sanitary Bin Rentalayr Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesayr General Wasteayr Trade Wasteayr Commercial Wasteayr Business Wasteayr Waste Managementayr Waste Collectionayr Cardboard Wasteayr Paper Wasteayr Plastic Wasteayr Glass Wasteayr Biomass Wasteayr Metal Wasteayr Confidential Wasteayr Confidential Waste Serviceayr On Site Shreddingayr Off Site Shreddingayr One Off Shreddingayr Contract Shreddingayr Dental Wasteayr Dental Waste Disposalayr Dental Waste Legislationayr Dental Waste Complianceayr Accupuncture Wasteayr Accupuncture Waste Disposalayr Accupuncture Waste Collectionayr Tattoo Wasteayr Tattoo Waste Disposalayr Sharps Binayr Sharps Collectionayr Hazardous Sharpsayr Non Hazardous Sharpsayr Cytotoxic Sharpsayr Cytostatic Sharpsayr Ink Blockayr Wet_Wasteayr Tattoo Inkayr Drug Destructionayr Drug Disposalayr Drug Denaturingayr Unwanted Drugsayr Out Of Date Drugsayr Pest Controlayr Rodent Controlayr Bird Controlayr Bird Proofingayr Guano Controlayr Pest Call Outayr Pest Preventionayr Pest Deterrentayr Nursery Wasteayr Nappy Wasteayr Nappy Binayr Nappy Disposalayr Nappy Wheelie Binayr Nursery Waste Disposalayr Nursery Waste Collectionayr Incontinence Padsayr Offensive Wasteayr Human Wasteayr Nursing Home Wasteayr Care Home Wasteayr Hazardous Wasteayr Infectous Wasteayr Pharmaceutical Wasteayr Medicinal Wasteayr Medicine Wasteayr Infection Controlayr Hand Sanitisersayr Clinical Waste Disposalayr Clinical Waste Managementayr Clinical Waste Policyayr EA Registrationayr Hammocksayr Garden Hammocksayr Adult Hammocksayr Childrens Hammocksayr Baby Hammocks