[Movie Review] A Most Wanted Man (2014)
Director: Anton Corbijn
Writers: Andrew Bovell (screenplay), John le Carré (novel)
Runtime: 122 min
Main Cast:
- Robin Wright as Martha Sullivan
- Philip Syemour Hoffman as Gunther Bachmann
- Willem Dafoe as Tommy Brue
- Rachel McAdams as Annabel Richter
- Daniel Bruhl as Maximilian
Review: by Nena
I saw the preview for this movie about a month ago and was intrigued by the premise. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Willem Dafoe are both incredibly talented actors and it had been a while since I'd last seen a good spy thriller. Most of the plot elements were well-orchestrated and made for an overall enjoyable experience.
A Chechen-Russian immigrant escapes torture and secretly makes his way to Hamburg, Germany, finding temporary safety in the Muslim community there. German and US security agencies become interested in him upon finding out about his claim to his dead father’s fortune despite having no formal identification. They must figure out whether he is a victim or a terrorist before time runs out.
What I Liked:
This movie was amazing. Philip Seymour Hoffman gave an outstanding performance as Gunther Bachmann, a chain-smoking no-nonsense agent who just wants to do his job. There were a few scenes in the movie where he just stood around smoking and looking contemplative, which added to the art-house feel of the movie. Every one of Mr. Hoffman’s lines was delivered masterfully in a gruff, natural-sounding German accent.
While he definitely stole the show, I would be remiss to not also give credit to Willem Dafoe as Tommy Brue, the banker who was at times calculating, suspicious, and sympathetic, sometimes all within the same scene. He turned out to be a surprisingly emotional character and I grew to like him by the end of the movie despite my initial misgivings.
One final mention would be newcomer Grigoriy Dobrygin’s continually haunted-looking Issa Karpov. He had a vulnerable, almost broken quality in his facial expression at all times–appropriate given his uncertain status and the trials he faced to overcome the shadows of his father’s deeds.
Given the subject matter, I felt that this movie was very realistic. It was easy to imagine a situation like this actually playing out in everyday life, whether it be in Germany, the United States, or anywhere else in the developed world. There were no over-the-top fight scenes, impossible weapon usage, or needlessly complicated missions–it was all good, old-fashioned strategy and deception.
Don’t get me wrong, I love insane, physics-defying, “there’s no way this could ever work”-style circumstances as much as the next nerd, but it’s refreshing to get back to basics every now and then. A Most Wanted Man fulfilled that need splendidly.
What I Didn’t Like:
There were a few scenes in the movie that dragged on and/or didn’t contribute anything to the plot development, but they didn’t spoil the movie for me. Rachel McAdams did fairly well with her German accent, although I noticed her slip up more than once. I also didn’t care for the slight romantic tension between Annabel and Issa. It felt forced and unnecessary.
Summary
A Most Wanted Man has a smart, emotionally-driven plot with great acting and thrilling twists. It serves as a good “farewell” movie to Philip Seymour Hoffman. I highly recommend checking it out.
User Review
( votes)Images Courtesy of IMDB
