Title: Atomic Blonde
Director(s): David Leitch
Screenwriter(s): Kurt Johnstad
Released: 2017
Runtime: 1h 55m
● This is a Cold War spy action-thriller based on the graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart. Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is a MI6 operative. At around the time of the collapse of the Berlin wall, she is sent to the city to retrieve “The List” containing the identities of operatives from both sides.
● As expected, the palette, lighting and editing as well as the action are highly stylized. It looks good if nothing else. And Theron is a perfect cast as she is able to sell the attitude and extreme action.
● One particular weakness is that given the consistent action, it is difficult to keep the momentum so the final action sequence, although elaborate enough, is not quite long enough.
● As for the intrigue, all the characters and (potential) double-crossing make it a little difficult to follow. It’s not muddled as any viewer who is paying attention can see the parties involved and guess what may be going on, but there can be better signposting. It gets to the point when it is like “Just me the answer already”.
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This mini-review is part of the collection for Taken clones and derivatives.
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