Two Movies To Watch Tonight
Atomic Blonde
A secret MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a lost list of double agents.
This is a stylized spy thriller, with Charlize Theron starring in a story full of twists, blended with relentless action scenes (the staircase fight scene is especially impressive—no music, just raw, realistic reactions from the characters).
Yes, the haters will say it’s more of the same, and I’ll agree that it doesn’t innovate. However, it’s well-directed, has great pacing, beautifully portrays the late '80s era, and boasts a stellar cast, exceptional cinematography, and a series of twists in the finale (some better executed than others). It avoids unnecessary effects, offers an entertaining soundtrack, and has masterful filmmaking overall.
Charlize gives her all, as always, and it shows. Here, she’s not portrayed as an invincible super-agent who walks away unscathed but as a force of nature both in her acting and her physical, expressive performance. Her delivery in the action and fight scenes is outstanding.
James McAvoy, on the other hand, felt more procedural in this role, but let’s be honest—he’s always good.
On the downside, as I mentioned earlier, the back-to-back twists in the finale (one of which is revealed a bit too late) weakened the overall impact for me. The script and narrative structure, at times, seem more complex than they needed to be.
Heretic
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door. Unfortunately for them, they're greeted by the sinister Mr. Reed, who traps them in a deadly game of cat and mouse. A new religious horror thriller. Is it worth it?
For me, the film’s greatest asset is Hugh Grant in a seemingly against-type role. He’s so expressive that he manages to scare you without making drastic changes to his usual style.
Both of his co-stars hold their own admirably in terms of performance.
It tackles some crucial religious themes that are worth discussing even after the movie ends.
It’s atmospheric.
The direction is solid, with one scene in particular being visually impressive (no spoilers!).
The screenplay is sharp, with biting dialogue and a smartly constructed narrative that thematically intrigues.
It’s not that scary overall, at least not in the traditional sense.
There’s a lot of dialogue, especially in the first half, which might feel tedious to some viewers.
The secondary characters are minimal to nonexistent, though this doesn’t detract much since the film focuses on its three leads.
You leave the theater with a feeling that something’s missing.
The ending is slightly weak with some over-the-top moments.