The spy film genre has long been a main source in which Hollywood consistently turns to in order to produce guaranteed and consistent commercial success, as the genre is appealing in terms of delivering action, suspense, and star power with those playing the main characters. When it comes to making a successful spy thriller, the key is to take a genre, that while being successful can also come across as feeling a tad generic, and bring something new to the table in regards to both concept and storytelling. With
Red Sparrow, the film was always going to rely on strong directing, writing, and a strong female actress who can bring the main character to life while making the audience engaged in her journey. Following
Atomic Blonde's critical and financial success,
Red Sparrow aims for similar results with Jennifer Lawrence placed in the main role of a ballerina dancer turned female spy, who ultimately uses her body as a weapon. Lawrence's performance is strong enough to lift the film above being a mediocre to an entertaining yet somewhat disappointing entry in the popular genre. When her character is on the screen, the film thrives and aims for it's full potential. When she's absent, the film struggles to regain the same momentum and impact.
Based on the bestselling 2013 Jason Matthews novel of the same name, the plot for
Red Sparrow centers around a top Russian ballerina Dominika Egorova (Played by Jennifer Lawrence), who ends up suffering a career-ending injury and ends up being recruited into the secret corps of Sparrow Operatives, a school and Russian intelligence service where both men and women are trained to seduce enemy agents as they extract intelligence from them. The mission that's given to the ballerina includes targeting a CIA agent, who turns out to not be easily swayed with the mission threatening to unravel the security of both nations. Based on a best-selling novel,
Red Sparrow is a spy film that has both promise and potential to be something fresh and exciting on the big screen. The overall execution of the film works mainly because of Jennifer Lawrence's strong performance in the main role, as well as the films intriguing plot and slick cinematography. The plot is interesting enough to keep audiences watching, but the film carries with it a slow pace that can make the whole ordeal feel tedious at times, as well as confusing in regards to what's happening within the story. What elevates the film to being a serviceable and decent spy thriller is the strong performances from the main cast, that helps bring the source material to life in a fashion that's entertaining and suspenseful despite the films pacing issues. The film also suffers from character development issues as side characters aren't fully fleshed out enough for the audience to become connected with besides Jennifer Lawrence's character.
One of the key elements that makes
Red Sparrow an effective thriller are the performances from the main cast, which often range from being strong to highly effective. Jennifer Lawrence is captivating and impressive in the main role of Dominika, with her believably showing her characters transformation from ballerina to an alluring spy, whose not only good at reading people but successfully seduces her targets. When her character is on the screen, the audience is engaged and anxiously waits to see what's in store for her character in the following scenes, particularly the ones where she's training in the school. Joel Edgerton does a solid job playing the American CIA agent Nathanial Nash whom Dominika is targeting. Edgerton does a solid job in making his character interesting enough to hold the audience interest when Lawrence isn't on the screen along with sharing chemistry together when the duo are on the screen. Jeremy Irons role is minimal but he does the best with the material he's given, and leaves an impression when on the screen playing General Vladimir Andreievich Korchnoi. The same is said for Matthias Schoenaerts in the role of Ivan Vladimirovich Egorov, Dominika's uncle and Deputy Director of the SVR. Other noteworthy supporting roles are Charlotte Rampling, the headmistress of the school, Mary Louise Parker as Stephanie Boucher, Chief of Staff to a U.S Senator, and Joely Richardson as Dominika's mother, Nina Egorova. Overall, the cast as a whole is strong and deliver performances that help keep the movie afloat in terms of delivering suspense when the pacing becomes an issue and character development with the exception of Lawrence character is minimal. As the film demonstrates, this is Dominika's show with her managing to carry the film on her shoulders with her convincing and effective performance.
In terms of the films directing,
The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence reteams with his main star to craft an interesting yet slow-building Russian spy thriller. Having worked with Lawrence before previously on
The Hunger Games series, Lawrence is familiar with her talents, giving her creative freedom to play the part, while shaping the rest of the story around her character to fully utilize her talents. Lawrence directs the film with a slick style, that effectively creates a dark atmosphere full of tension and mystery to go with the main plot. The films use of sexuality both as a weapon as well as a form of seduction, are handled tastefully with the graphic scenes of nudity being effectively used in the plot, particularly the scenes involving rape and torture. There isn't a moment of nudity or a sex scene shown, that doesn't feel relevant to the plot. The films technical aspects are where it truly shines with the film boasting beautiful cinematography, art-set decoration, and costume design, that makes it feel like a page out of a spy novel brought to life. Despite the films extremely slow pacing, the performances, directing, and production qualities are enough to elevate it into a compelling spy thriller with a strong music score from James Newton Howard.
The films screenplay by Justin Hayte is effective though warrants much of the films criticism towards its slow pacing. Whereas the script does a solid job of focusing the story around Jennifer Lawrence's character, the rest of the cast receives minimal development, ultimately making their characters feel generic and only there to serve the story despite the strong performances from the cast. The character development in the film feels rather thin and uninspired (Joel Edgerton's character is effective though feels like he only comes alive when his character is meant to assist or fall for Dominika's character. There is no real growth with his character or story arc like Lawrence's), though the themes of the movie which include Russian spies, double agents, CIA operations, seduction, rape, incest, lies secrets, trust, love, relationships, loyalty, and patriotism are brilliantly and effectively portrayed here. This is a story about two superpowers fighting it out with the inclusion of post Cold War era psychological warfare as well as the doubling down of intelligence services. The story is full of brutality, violence, and sexuality with Dominika's character having a strong and believable transformation from maiden to Russian agent using her feminine strengths to impressive effects. The violence isn't glorified and the use of sex and nudity in the story is used as a tool to drive the suspense and intensity of the story to maximum effect. The films twists and turns with the plot work well, particularly the films opening sequence that's effective yet shocking in terms of showing one's hopes being shattered. It is a brutal sequence yet one that begins Dominika's journey down a dark and complexed path. The film shows her character struggling with whom to trust as she fights back against family. as well as people pretending to be friends, and sexists. In a genre that is big on storylines pertaining to deceit and personal loyalty,
Red Sparrow does a solid though not perfect job of presenting a story in which the audience as well as the main character questions who in the story is deceiving without the plot being too complexed. The script does suffer from overlapping issues with a few moments being confusing, but the bulk of the story is relatively straight-forward and engaging to watch if one has the patience to handle the films slow pacing.
In the end,
Red Sparrow is an appealing spy thriller that's flawed and won't be enjoyed by everyone. Some audiences will be turned off by the films slow pacing, while others will take issue with the lack of character development. The best thing that the film has going for it is the director giving Lawrence the opportunity to command the screen, as well as showcase her talent for the part. It also helps that the plot is rather interesting and has enough momentum to keep audiences interested, though the pacing and lack of character development with the side characters unquestionably becomes an issue. In an era where Hollywood is being dominated by numerous high profile sequels, remakes, reboots, and comic book movies, it's refreshing and noble to see a different and original story hit the big screen in a way that brings shock value in terms of it's tone, and doesn't apologize for it because it fits the context of the story.
Red Sparrow is a flawed yet entertaining thriller, that knows what it wants to be and delivers on it's promise to entertain as well as compel its audience. The film takes risks and pushes boundaries, which is something that isn't seen much in today's form of Hollywood filmmaking. The film is no
Atomic Blonde in terms of delivering highly stylized action and a quick plot, but has enough moments of intensity as well as graphic violence to make the film worth watching. If anything else, Lawrence's performance alone makes it worthwhile.
Final Verdict: For those who are fans of spy and espionage thrillers,
Red Sparrow is worth a watch, though it isn't a great movie.
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