Review of A Most Wanted Man (2014) by Yorkman — 01 Feb 2016
A Most Wanted Man has some notoriety for being the final film released before Philip Seymour Hoffman's untimely death, and it is fitting that it is also recognised as one of his stand out performances.
The film revolves around a simple enough premise.
A contemporary set thriller, in Hamburg, Hoffman plays Günther Bachmann, the leader of an underfunded, underappreciated and beleaguered anti-terrorist squad. Things kick off when a young man is spotted on CCTV and recognised as the son of a dead Russian war criminal, who the authorities believe is a Jihadi sympathiser and therefore a direct threat.
Bachmann, however, is a more pragmatic man, believing that it's better to use blackmail etc (techniques he knows the German authorities can never legally condone) to get the people at the 'bottom' of the chain, to help catch and/or blackmail those further up. Bachmann recognises that his approach is disconcerting the post 9/11 'world', especially if there's the possibility he's wrong, and the Russian is there simply to blow something up, or escape further into the West.
What follows is a well conceived, two hour long, character driven thriller.
As a film though, it's not brilliant. Based on the John Le Carre novel of the same name, it's strange that a complex novel seems unable to be turned into a coherent screenplay. It's too slow paced, there's no real drama, all the peripheral characters aren't fleshed out and, worst of all, the basic 'message' of the book (that of extraordinary rendition by the American government) is pretty much removed from the narrative. Bachmann only offering the possibility (and not using the term itself) when explaining what could happen to the Russian man if he doesn't co-operate.
It's not brilliantly directed, the score is instantly forgettable, and the film ends without offering any rationale as to the actions of those responsible for the 'twist' at the very end.
Disappointing film, but filled with some excellent acting performances.
This review of A Most Wanted Man (2014) was written by Yorkman on 01 Feb 2016.
A Most Wanted Man has generally received positive reviews.
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