With powerful movie trailers promising intrigue, sex and espionage, coupled with extensive promotional stunts in the media by leading cast members, one could be forgiven for expecting a fast-paced, intellectually-stimulating movie, driven by good acting, crisp dialogue and captivating yet believable plot twists.
However, the movie Red Sparrow underwhelms for the most part, save for some unexpected twists in the storyline that no one could have seen coming.
The biggest disappointment would have to be leading lady Jennifer Lawrence of Hunger Games fame, who having mastered one facial expression so well, runs with it throughout the movie. Whether in physical pain, distraught, emotional, alarmed or despondent, a stony-faced expression greets the audience throughout, making it difficult to identify with her character or feel her pain as the rough and tough heroine with a heart.
The story also takes too long to unfold. It revolves around Lawrence’s character, Dominika Egorova, a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi, who suffers an injury so devastating, she can no longer dance. This also means she will lose the house the government pays for now and have no financial means to care for her mother.
Her uncle Ivan Egorov (Matthias Schoenaerts), a Vladimir Putin lookalike, pays her a visit and being the First Deputy Director of Russia’s foreign intelligence service or SVR, manipulates Dominika into working as a state intelligence officer in exchange for medical treatment her dreadfully ill mother so badly needs.
As reluctant as she is, Dominika becomes the latest young recruit of Sparrow School and undergoes punishing psychological training under the strict tutelage of its director, known only as Matron (Charlotte Rampling). It is here that Dominika learns to use her body and mind as a weapon for the state.
Despite earning the nod as the most dangerous Sparrow the programme has ever produced, her first assignment, seducing a political rival of the government, ends in disaster in a hotel room, through no fault of her own.
However, Dominika soon finds herself at the mercy of everyone, including Joel Edgerton’s character, an American CIA agent named Nathaniel Nash, the handler of a Russian mole, and the central figure of her new assignment.
There is double-crossing aplenty, and just like Dominika, the audience is taken along a dark journey fraught with mystery, distrust and question marks. One doesn’t quite know who is up to no good and who can be trusted, including General Vladimir Korchnoi (Jeremy Irons), who heads the SVR. The best is saved for last though, so be prepared for an ending that will blow your mind.
While much of the plot is convoluted to say the least, the storyline of Red Sparrow was based on a novel by retired CIA operative Jason Matthews. So how much of a creative licence was used for the movie and how much was based on actual events, is anybody’s guess. Not many of us can claim to know with any degree of certainty how the world of espionage works and to what extent evil deeds are committed in the name of the state.
The movie is rated R for strong violence, torture and sexual content, and nobody’s kidding here! Some scenes are so violent, you will find yourself cringing as the cruelest of deeds are inflicted upon victims of torture during their interrogation sessions.
The movie is also said to contain its fair share of foul language and “graphic nudity”, all of which you will find no evidence of thanks to the expert handiwork of the Malaysian Censorship Board.
Red Sparrow is directed by Frances Lawrence – no relative to Jennifer Lawrence – although he did direct the 2013 movie The Hunger Games – Catching Fire, and Parts 1 & 2 of The Hunger Games – Mockingjay, in which the actress played the leading role. It was written for the screen by Justin Haythe, who also wrote 2008’s Revolutionary Road starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Red Sparrow, however has not been able to live up to the labels of its genre i.e. “action and adventure, drama, mystery and suspense”. However, if you are a diehard Lawrence fan – both actress and director – and a lover of everything espionage, then this movie might just be the thing to perk up a lacklustre weekend or something to unwind to after a hectic day at the office.
Red Sparrow is brought to you by 20th Century Fox, and will open in GSC cinemas on March 15.