The Amateur, while flawed, provides reasonable entertainment and evokes a sense of nostalgia. Rami Malek portrays a talented but subordinate CIA encryption specialist who uncovers a covert operation involving a drone strike on American allies, deceptively attributed to insurgents. When he threatens to expose this information to prominent news outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN, his targets react with apparent concern—a reaction that seems outdated considering the diminished capacity of such institutions to shock the public or elected officials with revelations of government misconduct. For those seeking a fantasy that harkens back to a time when whistleblowing held genuine power, The Amateur offers a wistful escape.
Such fantasies persist, though. In the ’90s and early 2000s, thrillers akin to The Amateur were a regular cinematic offering. They weren’t necessarily groundbreaking, but they provided adequate weekend entertainment. Similarly, The Amateur is a moderately enjoyable, if somewhat implausible, thriller that benefits from its diverse filming locations in France, England, and Turkey. Although not exceptional, The Amateur is sufficiently diverting, and sometimes a competent movie is all that’s required.
Malek’s character, Charlie Heller, is portrayed as meticulous and thoughtful. Even his preparation of coffee for his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), is executed with precision. He then departs for his job, a considerable distance from their rural home and the bustle of Langley. Upon arriving at work, Charlie’s position in the hierarchy becomes apparent. A prominent agent, known as the Bear (Jon Bernthal), invites him to lunch, but only to resolve a computer issue. Charlie accepts this with equanimity, content in his role among other bright but underappreciated colleagues.
However, Charlie possesses a unique connection: he communicates with a mysterious individual known as Inquiline, whose location remains unknown. This contact provides him with crucial information that becomes vital when tragedy strikes shortly after his wife’s departure for London. Sarah is killed in a terrorist attack, and Charlie’s supervisor, Moore (Holt McCallany), delivers the devastating news, including a video of the event. Overcome with a desire for revenge, Charlie is dissuaded by Moore. However, Charlie uses incriminating information from Inquiline about Moore’s involvement in the drone strikes to blackmail him. Moore complies by sending Charlie to CIA agent training school, where he is mentored by the stern Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), who doubts Charlie’s killer instinct. Undeterred, Charlie embarks on a pursuit of the weapons dealers responsible for his wife’s death, spanning locations from Paris to Marseille and later Istanbul and the Baltic Coast. In this transformation, the mild-mannered analyst evolves into an action hero.
Malek delivers a surprisingly credible performance. Directed by James Hawes (known for his work on TV shows like and ) and adapted from Robert Littell’s 1981 espionage novel, The Amateur is crafted with a confident and easygoing style. Malek’s portrayal of Charlie captures his naiveté in confronting ruthless international criminals, yet his audacity proves valuable. Moreover, he demonstrates resourcefulness, such as consulting a YouTube tutorial to break into a Parisian apartment. (He picks the lock while simultaneously holding his phone, guided by the online expert.)
Malek excels at portraying characters who are somewhat out of sync with the world, conveying a sense of trust with his features. He convincingly embodies a dedicated public servant shocked by the world’s cruelty. Despite his initial innocence, he displays remarkable courage. Upon discovering that one of his targets suffers from severe allergies, he cleverly obstructs her airways with pollen. He also utilizes his knowledge of physics to cause a glass swimming pool, suspended high above the ground, to collapse. As a vigilante, he is an appealing figure, and he also makes an excellent cup of coffee.
