I consider James Hawes’ feature directorial debut, One Life, one of the most memorable films of its release year. Based on the director alone, expectations for his sophomore effort were already high. Add to that The Amateur being a spy thriller starring Rami Malek – whose career-best performance remains his role in Mr. Robot, portraying a character with evident similarities to this one – and the level of anticipation rose to the point where this became, personally, one of my most awaited releases of the first half of 2025.
Based on the novel of the same name by Robert Littell, The Amateur features a screenplay by Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) and Gary Spinelli (American Made), and follows Charles Heller (Rami Malek), a CIA cryptographer who, after losing his wife in a terrorist attack, decides to use his skills to pursue a personal mission of revenge. With no field training and surrounded by people concealing their own agendas, Heller attempts to navigate a web of corruption, secrets, and ambiguous morality. That’s the official synopsis of an adaptation that promises a more cerebral narrative but ends up following a much more straightforward, contained route.
Starting with Malek: the actor once again embodies a type of role that seems to have become part of his artistic DNA – the tormented introvert, socially withdrawn (though not quite as much as in the series), but intellectually ahead of everyone around him. His defining work in Mr. Robot is a clear reference – not only in his posture and anxious gaze, but also in the way he engages with a reality that always feels slightly off. Malek holds the screen with a careful balance between emotional fragility and cold determination, even when the script rarely pushes him out of his comfort zone.
Volker Bertelmann’s score (Conclave) stands out as one of the movie’s strongest atmospheric tools, helping sustain a steady rhythm, especially when the narrative slips into repetitive structural cycles. Unfortunately, The Amateur falters precisely where it should excel: the absence of a truly engaging or surprising story makes the experience feel… unenthusiastically simple. For a thriller that seems to aim at being a moral or even political puzzle, everything unfolds with near-frustrating predictability. The challenges that arise rarely feel dangerous, and Heller’s path often feels too conveniently smoothed over. Even accounting for the usual suspension of disbelief and a few narrative shortcuts, the bigger issue is the lack of real tension or shocking moments.
Thematically, The Amateur touches on important ideas such as grief, personal justice, and even institutional moral collapse – but only on a surface level. Heller’s pain is more presented than explored, visible in a few close-ups and introspective moments, but never fully developed in a way that allows us to truly understand his psychological state. His quest for revenge is hardly ever questioned – neither by him nor by the film. And when the viewers reach the end, the way it all wraps up sends a rather troubling message: as if violence wasn’t only necessary but sufficient to soothe emotional pain. This simplistic view undermines the emotional core of the story, leaving it stripped of any lasting resonance.
The movie takes several narrative liberties that make it more direct and accessible, but also less rich than the source material. The original novel is much more layered in terms of character motivations and the political web everything is caught in. That said, my familiarity with the book isn’t particularly extensive, so I’ll refrain from deep comparisons – especially since any adaptation to the big screen should be able to stand on its own. A final shoutout to Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), whose magnetic charisma once again elevates every moment he’s on screen. The man never disappoints.
Final Thoughts on The Amateur
The Amateur ends up being a mild disappointment, especially given the legitimate expectations raised by the talent involved, both in front of and behind the camera. Despite a committed performance from Rami Malek, James Hawes’ adaptation fails to escape a formulaic, timid, and emotionally shallow narrative – its simplicity and lack of surprise stand as its most significant flaws. There are occasional glimpses of emotional weight, but the script rarely ventures into more complex or thematically challenging territory, resulting in an experience that might entertain in the most basic sense. For a spy thriller with introspective ambitions, its biggest misstep was settling for the surface level.
Rating: C+
The Amateur is now playing in theaters.
Learn more about the film, including how to buy tickets, at the official website for the title.
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