The Amateur (12A)

Moderate violence, threat, language

Rami Malek leads this intelligent twist on the revenge thriller, fronting a globe-trotting action film that values wit over brute force.

When CIA analyst Charlie (Malek) loses his wife Sarah in a terrorist attack, he coerces his superior into letting him train for vengeance. Under the guidance of gruff veteran Henderson (Lawrence Fishburne), Charlie’s ineptitude with weapons shifts the mission’s focus to his analytical mind. He heads to Europe with the help of a savvy hacker (Caitriona Balfe), unaware he’s being hunted by multiple parties, including those within his own agency.

Based on Robert Littell’s novel, The Amateur sidesteps blockbuster clichés with a grounded, if understated, tone. Director James Hawes keeps the pace brisk as the plot hops across European locales, enhanced by some seriously slick visuals. But it's the well-layered characters and sharp script that give the film its real bite. Malek's brain-over-brawn Charlie is unconventional yet compelling, and his rapport with Fishburne and Balfe adds dimension.

It may not dazzle with high-octane thrills, but then this is neither Bond nor Bourne. Smart storytelling with a touch of finesse will do just nicely.