The Amateur is based on the novel of the same name by American author and former journalist Robert Littell, published in 1981. That same year, a Canadian film adaptation starring John Savage, Christopher Plummer and Marthe Keller was released, though it was a box office disappointment. British film and television director Charles Jarrott (Mary, Queen of Scots) directed the 1981 version. Through each iteration, the core story remains the same.
After Charles “Charlie” Heller (Rami Malek), a CIA cryptographer, loses his wife Sarah Horowitz (Rachel Brosnahan) in a London terrorist attack, he realizes his superiors will not act due to conflicting internal priorities. Blackmailing the agency into training him as a field operative, he embarks on a one-man mission to track down his wife’s killers.
The story and pacing fail to measure up to many other films in the spy-thriller genre, such as The Bourne or Jack Reacher series. Not every film needs a twist, but The Amateur feels like it deserves one — especially to provide a more satisfying conclusion.
“The cinematography by Martin Ruhe and the international locations evoke the visual tone of Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series.”
The narrative of The Amateur paints Charlie as a godlike, introverted cryptographer and quick learner — but his skillset feels overpowered. Malek plays the socially awkward character well, likely drawing from his Mr. Robot days, though this performance is even more uncomfortable. When things go according to plan, Malek’s expressions shift from fear to confidence disturbingly fast.
For a revenge story, audiences should not expect a non-stop action spectacle like John Wick. Charlie’s mission is driven more by his intellect than brute force — often assisted by a few YouTube how-to videos. His methodical kills resemble those of Jason Statham’s character in The Mechanic films.
Malek’s on-screen charisma knows no bounds. Whenever he shares the screen with Laurence Fishburne’s Colonel Robert Henderson, the two bounce dialogue off each other like longtime friends. Their chemistry is strangely reminiscent of the first time Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves appeared together in The Matrix.
While Jon Bernthal delivers his usual intensity, his character — Jackson O’Brien, a.k.a. The Bear — comes and goes like a deadbeat dad checking in now and then. His presence in The Amateur feels underdeveloped. In fact, his character is so underused that his name barely sticks. He feels less like a vital part of this film and more like someone meant to matter in a potential sequel.
“The Amateur score by Volker Bertelmann is effective but conventional.”
Bernthal and Adrian Martinez (Carlos) serve as Charlie’s closest allies within the CIA, but Martinez’s character receives little payoff. Their limited scenes help build some co-worker camaraderie, but it leads nowhere once the CIA turns against Charlie.
The cinematography by Martin Ruhe and the international locations evoke the visual tone of Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series. Charlie’s revenge journey takes him across several countries, and Ruhe — alongside director James Hawes — captures these locales in a way that balances beauty and urgency, depending on the moment.
The Amateur score by Volker Bertelmann is effective but conventional. Known for his bold work in All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, Bertelmann holds back anything experimental here. While The Amateur’s score isn’t as distinctive, it keeps the tension high during Charlie’s more clandestine scenes while also hitting the right emotional notes when needed.
By the time the credits roll, The Amateur wraps up a little too neatly. The final scene bookends the opening well, but other narrative threads feel unresolved. While this is a solid film, it doesn’t offer anything especially unique. It blends familiar elements from other espionage thrillers. The performances are strong — but the stakes for Charlie needed to be higher.
