Atomic Blonde - Review
Director: David Leitch
Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella
Wonder Woman and Atomic Blonde may both be female-led action films of 2017 but their cinematic styles could not differ more. The former is a CGI spectacle with a relentlessly optimistic protagonist and the latter a flick inclined more toward practical effects with a hardened and experienced spy front and centre. But both have proven to be excellent examples of action films done right.
Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is an elite MI6 spy working for the British government and is sent to Berlin nearing the end of the Cold War on a mission to retrieve a priceless dossier. However, her assignment proves to be more dangerous and complicated than imagined as she must take down an espionage ring and contend with dubious agents.
With co-director of the first John Wick entry, David Leith, at the helm of Atomic Blonde, the expectations for the action sequences were sky high. Thankfully, they exceed every conceivable supposition. Instead of relying on visual effects to curate the viscerally brutal and intense fight scenes, Atomic Blonde depends on the commitment and skill of its actors and stunt performers to enact the tightly choreographed sequences and the film is all the richer for it. The cuts in the editing are sparse, allowing the audience to watch the sequences unfold in all their glory with one particular showcase accomplished in a single, awe-inspiring shot.
Lorraine enters an empty building for cover with Spyglass (Eddie Marsan), a Stasi defector with valuable information, and soon finds herself under siege from espionage heavyweights What happens next is an approximately nine-minute unbroken taken capturing one of the most immersive and brutal scenes of action that cinema has produced in recent memory. Anything within arm's reach is transformed into a weapon or an opportunity for the downfall of Lorraine's opponents; a telephone, a flight of stairs, pieces of a broken gun - everything is fair game when it comes to enhancing a fist fight. The violence is relentless and whenever a foe of Lorraine's is pummelled to the ground, we beg him not to return for another round. Not just for his sake, but the sake of preserving our nerves which are torn to shreds with the help of the roar of the protestors that score the glorious feat as opposed to the delicious 80s soundtrack that features throughout.
Cool and almost impossibly slick, Atomic Blonde earns that assertion with many of its factors but its star, Charlize Theron, is largely responsible. Her performance as Lorraine Broughton is controlled, exciting and sexy often within the same scene and seemingly without any effort exerted. However, her dedication to the role shines through in her physical performance as she attacks the stunt choreography with fearless gusto. This authenticity elevates the film when the convoluted and at times clunky plot threatens to pull it down and overshadow the excellent work being done elsewhere.
Poised with radical immersive action sequences and anchored by the staggering Theron, Atomic Blonde overcomes its scripting issues to become an unmissable thrill ride.
EB
Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella
Wonder Woman and Atomic Blonde may both be female-led action films of 2017 but their cinematic styles could not differ more. The former is a CGI spectacle with a relentlessly optimistic protagonist and the latter a flick inclined more toward practical effects with a hardened and experienced spy front and centre. But both have proven to be excellent examples of action films done right.Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is an elite MI6 spy working for the British government and is sent to Berlin nearing the end of the Cold War on a mission to retrieve a priceless dossier. However, her assignment proves to be more dangerous and complicated than imagined as she must take down an espionage ring and contend with dubious agents.
With co-director of the first John Wick entry, David Leith, at the helm of Atomic Blonde, the expectations for the action sequences were sky high. Thankfully, they exceed every conceivable supposition. Instead of relying on visual effects to curate the viscerally brutal and intense fight scenes, Atomic Blonde depends on the commitment and skill of its actors and stunt performers to enact the tightly choreographed sequences and the film is all the richer for it. The cuts in the editing are sparse, allowing the audience to watch the sequences unfold in all their glory with one particular showcase accomplished in a single, awe-inspiring shot.
Lorraine enters an empty building for cover with Spyglass (Eddie Marsan), a Stasi defector with valuable information, and soon finds herself under siege from espionage heavyweights What happens next is an approximately nine-minute unbroken taken capturing one of the most immersive and brutal scenes of action that cinema has produced in recent memory. Anything within arm's reach is transformed into a weapon or an opportunity for the downfall of Lorraine's opponents; a telephone, a flight of stairs, pieces of a broken gun - everything is fair game when it comes to enhancing a fist fight. The violence is relentless and whenever a foe of Lorraine's is pummelled to the ground, we beg him not to return for another round. Not just for his sake, but the sake of preserving our nerves which are torn to shreds with the help of the roar of the protestors that score the glorious feat as opposed to the delicious 80s soundtrack that features throughout.
Cool and almost impossibly slick, Atomic Blonde earns that assertion with many of its factors but its star, Charlize Theron, is largely responsible. Her performance as Lorraine Broughton is controlled, exciting and sexy often within the same scene and seemingly without any effort exerted. However, her dedication to the role shines through in her physical performance as she attacks the stunt choreography with fearless gusto. This authenticity elevates the film when the convoluted and at times clunky plot threatens to pull it down and overshadow the excellent work being done elsewhere.
Poised with radical immersive action sequences and anchored by the staggering Theron, Atomic Blonde overcomes its scripting issues to become an unmissable thrill ride.
EB
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