Synopsis (from Focus Features):

The crown jewel of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is equal parts spycraft, sensuality and savagery, willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission. Sent alone into Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies.

 

ANALYSIS:

ATOMIC BLONDE is based on the graphic novel THE COLDEST CITY from Oni Press.  People will be surprised this is based on a comic book, but I think people will recognize it in the form of the ATOMIC BLONDE movie for years to come.  It is a 1980s cocktail of the best music of the period and action mixed with Cold War spy intrigue during the dying days of the Cold War in Berlin, Germany.  The only thing that annoys me about the movie is the story is being told in flashback by the main character.   Otherwise, it is one of most interesting spy movies of recent years with Charlize Theron being electric in every action sequence.   The scene where her character wanders into a movie theater playing slow burn sci-fi classic STALKER (DIRECTED BY Andrei Tarkovsky) makes me want to watch that movie again (which has recently been released to blu-ray and DVD by Criterion Collection- so a little accidental product placement that  will hopefully boost sales of that movie).   James McAvoy is at his slimy best as the somewhat charming agent who can’t just be trusted.  Berlin is another character highlighted by the gorgeous cinematography which makes every sequence in this movie pop (I wonder how 4K viewers will experience the color range on 4K UHD players later this year) from the cooler color scene to the sequences filled with powerful color.

 

If you’re looking for great action sequences and a movie with strong female characters, ATOMIC BLONDE has it in spades.   ATOMIC BLONDE is a stylistic spy action thriller with a great 1980s music song list and Charlize Theron owning each action sequence.  Go watch this movie or buy it when it hits blu-ray, digital HD, 4K UHD, and DVD later this year.

 

This review is ©7-29-2017 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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