The Amateur Review: James Hawes Swaps Quiet Dramas for Spy Action

This The Amateur review starts with a simple question: what happens when a desk-bound codebreaker is forced into the field? Director James Hawes turns that hook into an action thriller led by Rami Malek, with a solid supporting cast around him. The result is competent and watchable, if rarely daring.

The Amateur Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

Heller (Malek) is a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder who spends his days in an office far below the sunlight. His quiet routine collapses when his wife is killed in a terrorist attack in London. Grief hits hard, and his superiors refuse to act.

The Amateur plot then becomes a personal mission. Heller is no trained operative, so the film leans on the tension of a clever man learning dangerous skills in a hurry. The tagline, "Don't underestimate him," sums up the pitch neatly.

The script comes from Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli. It follows a clear, linear path, which keeps things easy to follow but limits the number of surprises.

What Works in The Amateur

The central idea is strong. A thinker rather than a fighter makes a fresh kind of hero for an action thriller, and the film gets decent mileage from his awkwardness.

• A grounded lead: Heller feels like a real person pushed past his limits, not a superhero in waiting.

• Clear stakes: The emotional motive is easy to grasp, so the audience stays on his side.

• Steady pacing in the middle: Once the mission gets moving, the film keeps a purposeful rhythm.

Audience reactions have been mixed but often warm. Some viewers found it a satisfying night at the cinema, even while admitting that parts of it stretch belief. If you enjoy spy stories built on a simple revenge engine, there is plenty to like. For more in the same vein, browse our action movie reviews.

The Amateur Cast and Performances

Rami Malek carries the film. He plays Heller with a nervy, wounded intensity, and he sells the idea of a man who is smart but out of his depth. Reviewers who disliked the film's pacing still praised his commitment.

The rest of the The Amateur cast adds weight:

• Rachel Brosnahan appears as Sarah.

• Laurence Fishburne plays Henderson.

• Holt McCallany plays Director Moore.

• Michael Stuhlbarg plays Schiller.

• Danny Sapani plays Caleb.

Fishburne and Stuhlbarg draw particular praise from viewers. They bring gravity to what could have been stock roles. The cast is better than the material at times, which is both a compliment and a quiet complaint.

Where The Amateur Stumbles

The biggest problem is predictability. Several critics found the story formulaic and emotionally shallow, with little interest in the deeper questions that revenge and grief raise. The film hints at them, then moves on.

Pacing is another sore spot. The lead-in feels long to some viewers, and the payoff in thrills can seem modest for a film with this much talent. The tone is also cautious, so the action rarely hits the heights you might expect from the premise.

Believability takes a hit too. Even fans admit the later developments strain plausibility. That matters less if you come for fun, but it may bother viewers who prefer realistic spycraft.

Is The Amateur Worth Watching?

Yes, if you want a straightforward spy thriller with a good lead and modest expectations. It is not a game-changer, but it is a clean, well-acted piece of genre entertainment that runs about two hours. Audience scores sit in the high sixes out of ten, which matches the experience well.

If you want twisty plotting or bold action set pieces, you may come away underwhelmed. If you want Malek in a leading role with a solid supporting cast, it delivers. The film suits a relaxed evening better than a must-see event. For similar tension, our thriller movie reviews are a good next stop, and you can find the film's full credits on IMDb.

The release date was 9 April 2025 in the United States, and the film is rated PG-13.

Who Will Enjoy The Amateur

• Fans of Rami Malek who want to see him lead an action story.

• Viewers who like CIA and spy thrillers built around a personal revenge plot.

• Anyone after an easy, mid-budget thriller rather than a complex puzzle. If that is you, our review of Undercurrent offers another action-thriller option.