Movies: Red Sparrow

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - The world is changing, but there is always business for spies and always material for good spy stories. The film "Red Sparrow", which runs now in US cinema theaters, belongs to the best recent spy movies (imdb). A former ballerina of Moscow´s Bolshoi Theater needs a new profession. Her uncle, a high ranking Russian spy, recruits her for the Russian intelligence. After attending a special education in seducing & deceiving, she calls it "whore school", the ex-ballerina is send on a mission which starts a vertigo of events & experiences (this is a spoiler free blog. You  can find a synopsis here wikipedia).

I had a lot of fun watching the movie. The producers took their time to develop a complicated but plausible plot with a lot of twists and surprises which reminded me a bit of John le Carré`s classics but also of the spy series "The Americans".  Over 2 hours 40 minutes director Francis Lawrence & screen writer Justin Hayth send their the protagonist and the audience on a roller coaster of emotions. The film is smart, sexy, beautiful shot; hot steamy scenes are followed by brutality & violence and turn then again in sheer beauty.

"Red Sparrow" is build around Jennifer Lawrence who incarnates perfectly the ballerina turned spy. The director had worked with her before in several "Hunger Games" movies, but this film is for an adult audience. Jennifer shows more intelligence, more style, more power and , yes, more sex, she`s not afraid to present her beauty in some nude scenes. The actress - and her character - combines high intelligence with an amazing beauty. Often the camera focuses on her face and the audience gets mesmerized by her eyes.

I also indulged into the performance by Charlotte Rampling as a Russian spy instructor, tough, unforgiving & decadent - priceless. The rest of the cast impressed as well, especially Michael Schoenaerts as the "helpful" uncle (with a makeup which let him look a  bit like President Vladimir Putin), Jeremy Irons, Ciarán Hinds (known as Cesar in HBO´s "Rome") and Mary-Louise Parker, whom I had admired in "West Wing" as a bitchy but alluring person. She has developed her bitchiness well over the years. Cinematography and soundtrack amplify the pleasure watching this movie.

"Red sparrow" is a perfect action movie and the proof that contemporary spy movies can be smart & highly entertaining as well.