Atomic Blonde (2017)

Review

115min

Genre:       Action, Mystery, Thriller

Director:    David Leitch

Cast:         Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman…and more

Writers:     Kurt Johnstad, Antony Johnston and Sam Hart

-Synopsis-

With undercover agents being eliminated and Western intelligence under threat at the end of the cold war, an MI6 super-spy is sent to Berlin to recover a valuable intelligence asset and deal with a soviet espionage ring, with the help of a rogue local British spy in this all-action adaptation of the Johnson & Hart graphic novel.

Completing his transition from hugely experienced stuntman to fully fledged filmmaker—after collaborating with Chad Stahelski as an uncredited co-director in the all-action Keanu Reeves vehicle ‘John Wick’—director David Leitch applies his fine-tuned and gritty action sensibilities to a hugely stylised, pulp heavy spy vs. spy cold war action/thriller, featuring all the bells and whistles needed to bring the 2012 graphic novel ‘The Coldest City’ to life . . . Hollywood style.

Charlize Theron stars as MI6 master spy ‘Lorraine Broughton’, proficient in languages and hand-to-hand combat (not to mention 80s fashion), sent to 1989 Berlin just before the collapse of the wall to unravel a conspiracy of cold war deception involving double agents which threatens Western operatives. After meeting the wild British station chief ‘David Percival’ (James McAvoy), getting involved with the local soviets, and a more pleasant operative of the French female variety (Sofia Boutella)—she soon finds that ‘The Grey City’ won’t easily give up its secrets and nothing is as it seems, as she’s forced to kick and punch her way to the truth.

From virtually the first frame of the film, it’s clear to see that style is the name of the game here and you’re clearly watching an adaptation of a graphic novel, although fans of the original ‘The Coldest City’ source material might struggle to recognise some of what they see. ‘Atomic Blonde’ is a highly stylised, meticulously crafted and visually arresting film, looking more like an avant-garde 1980s music video than a spy thriller, which goes well with the use of never-ending pop and electronica hits from the era. Cinematographer Jonathan Sela (Max Payne, John Wick) uses some of his stylistic signatures, often placing colourfully garbed characters against greyish and stark backgrounds, and occasionally bathing everything in glaring neon light for effect.

The story unfolds in non-linear fashion, beginning after-the-fact with Broughton being de-briefed and interrogated by her MI6 chief ‘Gray’ (Toby Jones) and CIA man ‘Kurzfeld’ (John Goodman) on her mission, then flashing back and forth between her misadventures in Berlin as a web of cold war oppression and deceit unravels, but always bringing the focus back to the platinum blonde herself. As a cold war spy thriller (on the surface anyway), ‘Atomic Blonde’ has a measure of mystery and intrigue, even featuring a major sequel-promising final twist, although it does feel like a twist for twist’s sake—but the little depth or intricacy in the narrative is inevitably drowned out by the true star of the show, and the film’s only real selling point (apart from the style) . . . and that is the action.

Much like Leitch’s only other effort as director/producer, ‘Atomic Blonde’ is stuffed with intricately crafted and often brutal action sequences and set-pieces, but unlike ‘John Wick’ there is limited gunplay here and a greater focus on skilled and often improvised hand-to-hand (or random object-to-face) combat. There’s no doubting the action credentials of the movie, with Theron taking her existing action and ass-kicking chops from films like ‘Æon Flux’ and ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ to a whole new level, expertly supported by the stunt performers and guided by the expert eye of her stunt-master director—there’s a certain scene on a stairwell that’s a violent joy to behold.

Yet for all its merits as a slick, stylish and seductive visual spectacle, ‘Atomic Blonde’ is a classic example of style over substance and how a lack of balance can result in one smothering the other. Any semblance of real mystery or legitimate intrigue is inevitably drowned out by the colourful noise of the frenetic action, with the classic and nuanced cold war spy thriller elements of the graphic novel being snuffed-out by this Hollywood treatment, despite the fact that this was an international, independent co-production with a modest budget.

Ultimately this feels less like a genuine atmospheric spy film and more like a meticulously crafted action vehicle for Theron to potentially stake her claim as the new female Bond or Bourne, with the espionage element as a mere contextual backdrop which adds a certain layer but could have provided much more, given a little more considered narrative balance and nuance.

Time will tell if a new spy franchise is in order, in the meantime ‘Atomic Blonde’ is an action-packed ride dripping with style for you to enjoy, as long as you accept its many limitations—we now wait in anticipation to see how next year’s ‘Deadpool 2’ fares with Leitch at the helm, but as long as he balances his action sensibilities with clever writing and the considerable charms of his star, we might be in for a treat.

The Bottom Line…

A sexy, stylish and graphic romp with unquestionable action credentials, ‘Atomic Blonde’ is however hampered by little character intrigue and genuine mystery which is easily overpowered by the spectacle, foregoing the nuance of its source material for what is essentially an action thriller disguised as a spy story. Yet thanks to the unique perspective of its director, a game performance from its star and solid ones from the supporting cast, this is still an enjoyable one-off sensory spectacle—but perhaps not meaty enough for a franchise.

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