Review of Imperium (2016) by Junelkean — 18 Jan 2018

Daniel Radcliffe, from English child star has turned himself as a versatile Hollywood actor, especially after "Swiss Army Man" and "Now You See Me 2." In "Imperium," he plays Nate Foster, an FBI agent who infiltrates an operation from a group of white extremists, leading to bigger stakes including a terrorist movement. Helping him out and serving as the ear of the government, there's his superior played by Toni Collette.

Radcliffe's post-Potter roles have truly been all over-the-place - leading to different roles from a Gothic assistant to a farting corpse. This takes us to his breakthrough and most understated performance. Also present are Tracy Letts and Sam Trammell, playing as white extremists. And while the main antagonists' motives and drives are unclear and cursorily-detailed, they are effectively-conveyed by their actors.

For a gritty neo-Nazi thriller, what is lacking here is on building and sustaining the tension. But still, even it lacks to thrill, Imperium succeeds to deliver interesting subjects like racial principles, white supremacy and violence.

VERDICT: Imperium is an often-suspenseful drama, featuring the wide acting range of Radcliffe, from a boyfie wizard five years ago, to a racist skinhead.