The Amateur

It’s a promising pulpy premise, but Malek feels too wan and underpowered in the charisma department to be carrying an action flick.

It would be funny if it weren’t so dull and so strangely played by Malek, an actor who seemingly believes that a complex internal life is best illustrated by hyperactive facial muscles and the blinkless stare of a sullen zombie.

It’s constructed with a breezy sense of confidence.

For all the scenes set in spy movie locales like Paris and Romania, “The Amateur” is a rather dull affair. Director James Hawes can’t stage an effective action sequence&#59; you rarely get a good idea of the geography of a scene.

This is a mechanical, sluggish affair, so dated it’s more like Bourne Yesterday.

Whilst it was on, I enjoyed it.

Malik is perfectly suited to this role... unfolds like a cloak and dagger version of "A Christmas Carol"... enjoyable as an updated and calculating throwback.

Despite carrying too much narrative baggage, this revenge story is engaging and entertaining, even if not very thrilling.

Malek excels at portraying characters who are slightly, or even significantly, disconnected from reality

It’s essentially Jason Bourne on Vicodin with a little Death Wish sprinkled on top. It’s slow, with long stretches where not a lot happens, steeped in grief, and unable to deliver a legitimate catharsis.