Shale
Bluelighter
Red Sparrow
Movie Blurb by Shale
March 2, 2018
This was my opening movie to see today because I like Jennifer Lawrence and saw an interview recently where she discussed her nudity in this film, which BTW is rated R "for strong violence, torture, sexual content, language and some graphic nudity."
It is a spy story, with all the usual intrigues of spies, defections counter spies and moles. It involves the CIA and Russian, but it is not like Salt or Atomic Blond with all the action. It is more character driven and shows the real dirt on how street level spies are expendable and often tortured by the Russians (and presumably by CIA black ops as well.but that was not shown). However, with Putin bringing back the Cold War yesterday with his intimidating announcement of a nuclear missile that can breach our defenses, this movie opening is spot on.
The movie starts with our protagonist, a prima ballerina in the Bolshoi Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) performing while simultaneous shots of operatives in Gorky Park are exchanging information. About the only action chase is when the exchange is spooked and the CIA agent Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) is on the run. Then back to the theater where Dominika has a ballet ending injury.
Dominika is pressed into Russian Intelligence by her spy uncle Ivan Egorov (Matthias Schoenaerts). She is reluctant but she is caring for her invalid mother and her home will soon be taken back by the Bolshoi, so she agrees to his coercion.
Uncle Ivan
She goes to training as a "Sparrow." She receives her new identity and refers to the headmistress as "Matron" (Charlotte Rampling) who reminded me a little of Col. Rosa Klebb in the James Bond movie "From Russia With Love.")
Dominika & Matron
This school is where young attractive operatives are taught how to evaluate their mark's needs and seduce them with that knowledge. Sexuality is encouraged and she is put to tests with her fellow students. Also, she learns the usual lock picking, surveillance, firearms & weapons use.
Dominika?s First Job
She is assigned to side up to the CIA operative from Gorky Park, Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) and find out from whom he got information. Nate being an accomplished agent sees thru her cover and lets her know. He is trying to get her to be a double agent.
Dominika Seduces Nate
From here, you don't know who is playing whom, as it is in all these spy dramas and they let you know how serious mistakes are dealt with.
The book that this movie is based on was written by an ex-CIA operative, so IDK how much is fictionalized or how much is real. Glad my only spying on the Russians was by radio across the Black Sea and not sneaking around old European buildings waiting for some stealthy assassin to jump out of the shadows.
The movie got only 51% Fresh from the aggregate critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Their consensus was; "Red Sparrow's tense, character-driven story ? elevated by outstanding work from Jennifer Lawrence ? help this topical spy thriller overcome its somewhat uneven narrative." I rather liked it, as did 54% of audiences.
Movie Blurb by Shale
March 2, 2018
This was my opening movie to see today because I like Jennifer Lawrence and saw an interview recently where she discussed her nudity in this film, which BTW is rated R "for strong violence, torture, sexual content, language and some graphic nudity."
It is a spy story, with all the usual intrigues of spies, defections counter spies and moles. It involves the CIA and Russian, but it is not like Salt or Atomic Blond with all the action. It is more character driven and shows the real dirt on how street level spies are expendable and often tortured by the Russians (and presumably by CIA black ops as well.but that was not shown). However, with Putin bringing back the Cold War yesterday with his intimidating announcement of a nuclear missile that can breach our defenses, this movie opening is spot on.
The movie starts with our protagonist, a prima ballerina in the Bolshoi Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) performing while simultaneous shots of operatives in Gorky Park are exchanging information. About the only action chase is when the exchange is spooked and the CIA agent Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) is on the run. Then back to the theater where Dominika has a ballet ending injury.
Dominika is pressed into Russian Intelligence by her spy uncle Ivan Egorov (Matthias Schoenaerts). She is reluctant but she is caring for her invalid mother and her home will soon be taken back by the Bolshoi, so she agrees to his coercion.
Uncle Ivan
She goes to training as a "Sparrow." She receives her new identity and refers to the headmistress as "Matron" (Charlotte Rampling) who reminded me a little of Col. Rosa Klebb in the James Bond movie "From Russia With Love.")
Dominika & Matron
This school is where young attractive operatives are taught how to evaluate their mark's needs and seduce them with that knowledge. Sexuality is encouraged and she is put to tests with her fellow students. Also, she learns the usual lock picking, surveillance, firearms & weapons use.
Dominika?s First Job
She is assigned to side up to the CIA operative from Gorky Park, Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) and find out from whom he got information. Nate being an accomplished agent sees thru her cover and lets her know. He is trying to get her to be a double agent.
Dominika Seduces Nate
From here, you don't know who is playing whom, as it is in all these spy dramas and they let you know how serious mistakes are dealt with.
The book that this movie is based on was written by an ex-CIA operative, so IDK how much is fictionalized or how much is real. Glad my only spying on the Russians was by radio across the Black Sea and not sneaking around old European buildings waiting for some stealthy assassin to jump out of the shadows.
The movie got only 51% Fresh from the aggregate critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Their consensus was; "Red Sparrow's tense, character-driven story ? elevated by outstanding work from Jennifer Lawrence ? help this topical spy thriller overcome its somewhat uneven narrative." I rather liked it, as did 54% of audiences.
