Where Atomic Blonde was very much draped in the 80s nostalgia, Red Sparrow is more in the spirit of 70s spy thrillers. Francis Lawrence’s film doesn’t quite reach the same heights as some of the best espionage pictures from that era. Despite a bloated run time and a few scenes that might prove too graphic for squeamish viewers, however, this is a thoroughly entertaining flick that ultimately hits its target.
Here are just five highlights of Red Sparrow:
5. Jennifer Lawrence
From her breakout role in Winter’s Bone to her mainstream success in The Hunger Games movies, few modern actresses have dominated the silver screen like Jennifer Lawrence has. She brings that same grit, determination, and wit to the role of Dominika Egorova, a Russian ballerina who has her dreams stripped away from her. She’s then prompted to take a slightly different career path, becoming a Russian intelligence agent known as a Sparrow. Dominika is required to use her body as a weapon and endure brutal torture, but the confidence Lawrence brings to the character prevents Red Sparrow from being just gratuitous. Even during the most uncomfortable scenes, Lawrence’s self-assured performance motivates us to power through.
4. The Supporting Cast
Lawrence isn’t the only A-lister to the film’s credit, as we get memorable work from Jeremy Irons as a Russian general, Matthias Schoenaerts as Dominika’s creepy uncle, and the always entertaining Mary-Louise Parker as a Chief of Staff with dirty laundry. Charlotte Rampling in particular steals the show as a Sparrow School headmistress who aspires to break her students in order to prepare them for what’s to come. Joel Edgerton also further secures is underrated status as Nate Nash, a CIA operative who naturally clashes and falls for Dominika.
3. The Style
This isn’t the first time Francis Lawrence has collaborated with Jennifer Lawrence, as he helmed the Hunger Games movies from Catching Fire onward. He has once again produced a marvelously crafted movie with absorbing cinematography, slick editing, and an operatic musical score. Granted, at times it feels like more thought went into the visuals than the screenplay. Even if Red Sparrow is mostly style over substance, though, it’s certainly never dull to look at.
2. The Worthwhile Payoff
At two hours and twenty minutes, Red Sparrow is overlong with several meandering scenes that should’ve been left on the cutting room for. The film compensates for this, though, with a clever payoff which, without giving too much away, brings multiple plot points together. The script, while flawed, does offer an involving mystery that keeps the audience guessing where exactly Dominika’s loyalties lie.
1. It’s Surprising Relevance
Red Sparrow is perhaps best described as a popcorn version of The Americans. Like that FX drama series, Red Sparrow is a surprisingly relevant picture given the U.S.A.’s current relationship with Russia. In the wake of the Me Too Movement, the film’s underlying themes regarding female empowerment and sexual misconduct are also bound to resonate with many audiences. To call Red Sparrow a truly deep, important movie that must be seen may be going to far, but it does manage to say more than one might anticipate going in.
What Did You Think of Red Sparrow? Let Us Know and Watch These Videos:
#RedSparrow
2:17;
