Title: The Amateur
Genre: Thriller, Action
Directed By: James Hawes
Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Platform: Theaters
Rating: 3.5/5
By Karl Simpson Jr.
“It’s about grief, not just revenge, which makes a difference.”
THE AMATEUR, directed by James Hawes, doesn’t entirely shake up the spy thriller genre, but it doesn’t need to. It’s the kind of movie that knows exactly what it is—and leans into it. This one’s more about quiet tension than high-octane spectacle, and it works best when it’s just letting its characters stew in the mess. Powered by a moody and incredibly focused performance by Rami Malek, the film takes on a well-worn setup and gives it some deep emotional weight. You’ve probably seen this story before, but that doesn’t make it any less watchable.
The plot is pretty straightforward: Charles, a CIA codebreaker, loses his wife in a London terrorist attack. The agency fails to act, so he takes matters into his own hands. Classic setup. But where THE AMATEUR succeeds is in how it handles that familiar formula. There’s a real sense of control in the storytelling. It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t overcomplicate. The film lets the tension build naturally as Charles gets deeper into a world he’s not entirely built for. It’s about grief, not just revenge, which makes a difference.
This movie doesn’t work without Malek. Playing Charles with a kind of quiet intensity that never feels forced. No big outbursts. No dramatic speeches. He’s just a guy holding it together because that’s the only way he knows how to keep going. His performance is all about what’s not said—the weight in a glance, the heaviness in his breath. Charles isn’t a trained killer or some action-hero type. He’s careful. Hesitant. But always moving with a purpose. That restraint is what ultimately makes you lean in. You keep waiting to see if he will snap—and when.
Now, it’d be easy for a movie like this to treat the love story as background noise—just a quick setup, so the action can start. But THE AMATEUR doesn’t do that. The connection between Charles and Sarah (played by Rachel Brosnahan) matters. Even though they don’t share much screen time, their relationship feels incredibly real. It’s subtle, but it sticks. You feel her absence in every decision Charles makes. That thread—grief, love, loss—gives the story its emotional pull and keeps you invested.
THE AMATEUR isn’t a thrill-a-minute kind of film. The pacing is slow, sometimes very slow—but there’s a purpose behind it. It allows the characters to breathe, for tension to simmer, and for us to sit with Charles’s grief. Some might find it too subdued, especially if they expect non-stop action. But if you’re into a more character-focused approach, it pays off. And when the action does hit, it hits hard. Nothing feels overdone or out of place. Every moment of violence serves the story—and that restraint helps to make it more impactful.
Here’s where the film stumbles. The trailers gave away a lot of the big beats. So, if you’ve seen the promotional materials, you will recognize most of the twists before they land. It’s not that the story’s poorly told—it’s just that the surprises don’t have as much room to surprise. Still, there’s enough going on beneath the surface to keep it interesting. THE AMATEUR isn’t a movie that lives or dies on its plot twists. It’s more about the how than the what.
THE AMATEUR isn’t flashy or groundbreaking but knows what it’s doing. Sure, it’s a familiar revenge story, but it’s one that puts character before chaos. Rami Malek anchors it with a performance full of quiet emotion, and the film never forgets what’s at stake. Whether it sticks with you or fades fast will depend on what you’re looking for, but one thing’s clear: this film is more interested in people than explosions, and that alone makes it worth a look.
