The Amateur (2025)

Rooney finds the implausible revenge thriller entertaining and a welcome throwback to glossy adult action films. He praises the lively action sequences and clever use of technology, while noting that the plot stretches credibility.

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Ehrlich finds the spy thriller neither fun nor dull, with its uneven mix of seriousness and absurdity. He praises Rami Malek’s portrayal of Charlie’s growing confidence and discomfort, as well as the film’s location shooting.

The critic finds the thriller professionally made but hollow, generic, and short on substance. They praise its real-world location work, while noting the supporting cast never gets enough to do.

Nussen finds the film a pleasurable but imperfect throwback, with muddled political implications. He praises its sustained corkscrew tension and Malek’s quivering intensity.

The review calls it a pleasingly old-fashioned spy thriller. It singles out Rami Malek’s shaky vigilante as the film’s central appeal.

Warmann finds the revenge thriller only partly successful, with modest thrills that never become gripping. He praises the realistic, awkward early stages of Charlie’s training, while noting that his rapid transformation into a hypercompetent killer weakens the film.

Jenkins finds the thriller extremely solid but unspectacular, with little substance beyond its central conceit. He criticizes its overpowered hacking and digital tricks for draining tension from the story.

Bradshaw finds the spy thriller moderately entertaining but fundamentally muddled. He praises the pool scene and Holt McCallany’s performance, while finding Malek’s anguished moments unconvincing.

The review finds the espionage drama patchy and says its spectacular set-pieces cannot compensate for a sub-standard script. It singles out the script as the main weakness.

Walsh finds the film frustratingly inert and its spy-thriller plotting predictable, despite its appealing surface. She praises Rami Malek’s performance and the film’s polished style, but says they cannot overcome its lack of suspense.

The critic finds the film an underpowered, formulaic spy thriller that fails to make its revenge story compelling. He praises Malek’s intriguing take on an unlikely hero and the film’s globetrotting look, but faults its pedestrian action and predictable story.

Gleiberman finds the revenge thriller watchable but frictionless, weighed down by implausibilities and familiar genre ingredients. He praises Rami Malek’s fit for the role and singles out an early scene that briefly gives the film a taste of sadism.

Willmore finds the film an ill-fitting, overstuffed revenge thriller that cannot make its serious approach work. She praises Malek’s effort to give Charles emotional depth, but says his realistic performance clashes with the pulpy material.

Hammond finds the spy thriller an exciting, emotionally engaging twist on the genre. He praises Rami Malek’s understated performance and singles out the Berlin pool-collapse sequence as an action highlight.

The critic finds the film engaging and competently made, though its plot strains credibility. He praises the cast, taut direction, and crisp editing for making its far-fetched revenge story work.

The review finds The Amateur a gripping, well-crafted spy thriller, despite its familiar plot and shallow treatment of grief. It praises the tense, original set pieces, especially the inventive ways Heller uses his intelligence to pursue the killers.

Ewing finds the film a worthwhile, atypical spy thriller, though its slower pace and contrived plot points strain its logic. He praises Rami Malek’s layered performance as a grieving widower and Laurence Fishburne’s electric presence.

The critic finds it a solid, enjoyable thriller that falls short of its potential because of tropes, a haphazard plot, and an unsatisfying ending. He praises the underdog premise and the creative set pieces built around modern technology.

The critic finds the film mediocre but watchable, with familiar plotting that undercuts its potential. Rami Malek’s performance is singled out for giving his character depth despite the screenplay’s shortcomings.

The critic finds the film derivative and unremarkable, advising readers to spend their time and money elsewhere. They note the strong cast and occasional good supporting performances, but say the film fails to develop its premise into something distinctive.