– A Slow Burn That Never Catches Fire
The Amateur had all the right ingredients on paper—a solid cast, a promising premise, and a trailer that made it seem like a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Unfortunately, the movie itself doesn’t live up to the hype. While Rami Malek turns in a thoughtful and committed performance, and the supporting cast is equally capable, the story never really takes off in the way you’d expect.
From the beginning, the film sets a tone that feels like it’s building toward something big. There are long, quiet, pensive moments scattered throughout, clearly meant to create depth and tension. But instead of feeling meaningful or impactful, they come off as empty. You find yourself waiting for the “aha” moments—the big reveals, the emotional gut punches—but they just don’t land. The discoveries feel muted rather than surprising, and the story never quite justifies the weight it tries to carry.
The pacing is probably the film’s biggest issue. It moves painfully slow. I generally don’t mind a slow burn if the payoff is worth it, but in this case, the buildup never leads to the emotional or narrative payoff the trailer seemed to promise. It’s not that the film is poorly made—it’s just that it never becomes as gripping or as thoughtful as it clearly wants to be.
There are some worthwhile elements here. Rami Malek does a solid job with what he’s given, and the film clearly had some interesting themes it wanted to explore. But by the end, it feels more like a missed opportunity than a satisfying watch.
I’m glad I saw it—at least in the sense of satisfying my curiosity—but I can’t confidently recommend it. If you were intrigued by the trailer, just know that the film itself is a much slower, less thrilling experience. The Amateur isn’t a bad movie—it just isn’t the movie it should have been.
Leave a Reply