Jane Wick
The big hype surrounding Atomic Blonde is the general talk of it being somewhat of ‘the new John Wick’, albeit with the new iconic action star Charlize Theron at the head of it. It’s trailers certainly seemed to all but confirm that, from its brutally composed fight scenes to the cool swagger emitted from its neon-lit aura. Yet, despite sharing a director in the form of David Leitch, Atomic Blonde is less a revenge actioner and more a Cold War-esque espionage thriller. It’s more in line with something like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy than the man Wick, if the former was a great deal more punchy, more neon-hued and set to 80’s pop soundtrack. As a whole, Atomic Blonde can leave a little to be desired, particularly in the story department. However, as a display for Charlize Theron’s formidable talents, as well as some truly killer action sequences, Blonde satisfies, even if it won’t quite change the way you view action films.
The plot isn’t unlike other spy films before. You pretty much know the drill. Theron’s Lorraine Broughton is our secret agent. Armed with a set of ruthless skills, she is sent undercover to Berlin to investigate the murder of a fellow British agent, and to retrieve a missing dossier containing the names of some double agents. So nothing you haven’t seen before. While the film doesn’t exactly break new ground within the spy thriller genre, it’s somewhat of a pleasant thrill to see the Cold-War thriller done with a bit more of a pop sheen.
The first half of the film is arguably its weakest section. We’re subjected to a fair bit of slightly uninteresting plot set up that’s often confusing to follow. The 80’s electropop helps to distract from this, casting an atmospheric gloss over the film, although it does get to a point where it feels as if they’re trying too hard. I love 99 Luftballons as much as the next person, but there’s only so many times you can fall back on a pop song cue before it gets tired. Thankfully, it gets better as it progresses, which is a welcome change from the trend of films that teeter off in their second half. The first half doesn’t feature a great deal of action, oddly enough, but it becomes apparent that they were holding back for the film’s centrepiece. And that centrepiece would be a genuinely astonishing 15-minute sequence that is one of the most thrillingly crafted action scenes I’ve seen in years. Done mostly in one take, the scene effortlessly morphs from a gun shootout, to a brutal fist fight before culminating into a crunching car chase. It truly has to be seen to be believed. While the film doesn’t come close to reaching those lofty heights again, this action scene becomes the turning point of the film, creating a second half that is significantly more involving than the first. It’s colder, sinister side is revealed, giving it more purpose that was somewhat lacking in the first half.
If you’ve chosen to see Atomic Blonde, you’re really here to see one thing, and that’s to see Charlize Theron punch the shit out of things, and look cool doing it. And does she ever. Theron has become one of the decade’s most iconic action stars, and if Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road wasn’t enough proof of that, then her turn here will all but cement it. While disappointingly underutilised earlier this year in The Fate of the Furious, she absolutely tears up the screen here, oozing an icy swagger that’s as endearing as it is intimidating. One of Theron’s greatest skills as an actor is her deft ability to tap into hidden depths of her characters, juggling the nuanced character moments with the more physical action moments with ease. It’s the same approach that made Furiosa so affecting, and it’s put to similarly effective use here. Broughton is as brutal and cold as ice, yet you’re with her all the way. Theron taps into a side of her that perhaps wasn’t as spelt out in the film’s script, and it helps to elevate an otherwise unremarkable film. She’s surrounded by a pretty stellar supporting cast, particularly the ever reliable McAvoy who is, as always, a refreshingly charismatic presence.
Again, Atomic Blonde isn’t something that will change your life. You’ve seen this thing done before, and better. It’s a film that, sometimes frustratingly, simmers but doesn’t quite sizzle, adding up to…not very much. However, as an uber-cool spy thriller casted in a 80’s neon glow, it does the job. It has more than enough satisfying moments to make it worth your time. Not quite Atomic, then, but there’s enough spark here to keep you interested.
Score: 3.5/5
Atomic Blonde is out tomorrow, 3rd of August.