Review of Red Sparrow (2018) by Dramaxandra — 02 Mar 2018

It is true that Red Sparrow without Jennifer Lawrence would just be half as good. She is the center of the movie and with minimal acting she tells us everything we need to know. Just outstanding - one of her best performances and movies to date! It´s just a look into her eyes and you are inside everything she has to experience or endure. In the middle of a truly haunting story which will stay with you for a very long time. And which you´ll want to rewatch to catch all the twists and turns!

From the first scene on you are seated in a roller coaster which goes on and on and you don´t know how to leave - but that is all meant in a positive way! You never want to leave it, you want to know what happens next! You experience one hell of a ride and yes it´s violent and there are some sex scenes but it is a movie for grown-up people and they should not have a problem with that. Everything happening in Red Sparrow is for a cause and not violence and explosions with no sense at all. We see this way too often in movies nowadays so this one should be highly appreciated.

Alongside Jennifer Lawrence´s wonderful performance there is a really good supporting cast, especially Matthias Schoenaerts as her uncle Vanya. Joel Edgerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons and all the others were fine as well.

I loved the wonderful cinematography and the truly brillant score from James Newton Howard. it is definitely one of his best! You have to check this out as well!

Francis Lawrence and author Justin Haythe did a great job bringing Jason Matthew´s novel to life for the big screen. It is different from the book in some ways but this is good and the movie really keeps you guessing like the trailer announced.

Red Sparrow gives you insight into a world of its own, we are allowed to witness for 2 1/2 hours. You feel like being strangled at moments because there is no choice at all for the leading lady, but in the end you can really understand what being empowered means! It is a spy movie masterpiece! And Dominika is one of the brave, fearless, deep woman characters we need nowadays! I hope for the other books of Jason Matthews to become movies as well since we really need more of this powerful woman character.