UK Release Date. 9 August 2017
Certification. 15
Running Time. 1 hour 55 mins
Director. David Leitch
Cast. Sofia Boutella, John Goodman, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, James McAvoy, Charlize Theron.
Rating. 63%
Review.
"I know she doesn't play by our rules. But, she's our best Intelligence expert... ...There's a double agent operating in Berlin. If we don't find him before the wall falls, we could be facing World War III. Remember, trust no one."
That's all the exposition needed for David Leitch’s explosive feature-length film debut.
Based on Antony Johnson’s graphic novel The Coldest City, Atomic Blonde boasts an impressive cast including Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, John Goodman, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, James Faulkner and Bill Skarsgård. Heavily influenced by film noir, neo-noir and gun fu, the film oozes style. Shadows and dark corners abound, but the director of photography, Jonathan Sela is not averse to a bright pop of neon pink every now and then. Combined with a soundtrack that celebrates the Roland Juno-106 and Oberheim DMX drum machine - Blue Monday, 99 Luftballons, The Politics Of Dancing and Sweet Dreams - Atomic Blonde perfectly encapsulates the zeitgeist of Berlin, 1989.
This is Charlize Theron’s film. She throws herself into the lead role of Lorraine Broughton with gusto. As compelling a female action performance as any I’ve seen - this is no Aeon Flux. Throughout the film, Broughton is dressed in a combination of Christian Dior, John Galliano and charity shop treasures to create a look reminiscent of a young Debbie Harry.
As you’d expect from a producer who worked on John Wick, the stunt work is sensational. The initial fight sequences are akin to glorified music videos (as is the theatrical trailer), but Leitch excels, in particular, with one brutal, uncompromisng, 12-minute fight sequence shot in long, hand-held takes that roam down a stairwell, through an apartment and into a car chase that follows as part of the same shot. The edits are cleverly disguised in blurs of movements or pushes through solid objects. Broughton’s effortless icy cold facade and formidable no-nonsense attitude serve to make the fight scenes all the more effective, contrasting her glamour with a sudden and uncompromising brutality. Unfortunately, after the 12-minute apotheosis, the intricately choreographed fight sequences begin to become somewhat repetitive.
Atomic Blonde is far from perfect. But despite all of Atomic Blonde’s failings, it is ultimately a thoroughly entertaining film.
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