The double-crosses and twists may be unconvincing throughout, but there’s nothing half-hearted about the sexual elements in Lawrence’s story. More interesting is the complicated relationship between uncle Vanya and Dominika, which brims with an uncomfortable sexual tension more befitting the perversity of Red Sparrow. There are superficial attempts to establish a relationship between Dominika and the enterprising (but goodhearted) Nash, but there isn’t enough room for love in a story cluttered with seemingly mandatory plot points. Besides for some genuinely unsettling torture scenes, one involving an especially close shave on a victims back, there’s not much action to keep you engaged. One is reminded of Jeanne Moreau’s sinful tutor from Besson’s La Femme Nikita, the film to which Red Sparrow hews most closely.Īfter Dominika graduates from “whore school” (as it’s affectionately known in the intelligence community), things become decidedly more pedestrian. This includes dealing with sexual predators like pedophiles and domestic abusers with a stomach-churning modicum of respect. “For the deception to be complete, you must hold nothing back,” she commands. Rampling is masterful in this role, oozing menace and sexual ruthlessness as she guides her students through a litany of unsavory scenarios. Recruits are classily berated by Headmistress Matron (Charlotte Rampling), who urges them to ditch their “sentimental morality” in favor of “love on command”. It’s unlikely that Lawrence and her acting comrades stripped down to their naughty bits in a freezing warehouse, but the filmmakers keep everything suitably cold and dispassionate. Here, Jennifer Lawrence bears all for the camera, giving us the ‘Full Monty’ both physically and psychologically. This is followed by the film’s undeniable highlight Dominika’s training at the Sparrow School. ![]() It’s a bravura sequence that portends Dominika’s fall from the spotlight into the shadowy murk of espionage. The spies are a CIA operative named Nash (Joel Edgerton) and his mole inside the Russian government, codenamed “Marble”. This includes a beautifully edited sequence that intercuts Dominika’s grizzly ballet mishap with a botched meeting of spies in Gorky Park. Yes, nepotism is still alive and well, though it doesn’t usually involve this much rape and throat slitting.ĭirector Francis Lawrence (veteran of several The Hunger Games features, including Mockingjay – Pand Mockingjay – Part 2, 2015) adapts the first half of Jason Matthews’ successful spy novel for maximum impact. With unpaid bills mounting and a sick mother who needs medical insurance, Dominika accepts a ‘generous’ job offer from Russian Deputy Director Vanya Egorov (Matthias Schoenaerts), who just happens to be her uncle. Actually, the leg shattering happens first - her male partner does a pirouette right onto her freaking leg - and the shattered dreams quickly follow. Prima ballerina Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) arrives at the school with shattered dreams and a shattered leg. It’s a delightfully lurid premise that feels ripped from the fevered dreams of a 14-year-old boy, or the fanciful ramblings from the forum of some men’s magazine. ![]() ![]() You see, these are beautiful young Russian spies charged with uncovering precious secrets, not by disarming their marks, but by de-pantsing them. It’s not the sort of advice you’d hear in Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, but it’s no less useful to the students at the Sparrow School. You must become the missing piece and they will tell you anything.” No, this is film about sexual manipulation violence against the soul rather than broken bones and contusions. The Atomic Blonde isn’t going to burst into the room and outpunch the boys in long, choreographed duels. Despite the presence of a strong female lead character, this isn’t a film concerned with proving that women can best men at their own game. There’s almost something admirable about the ruthless sexuality of Red Sparrow. ![]() What ultimately makes Francis Lawrence’s twisted tale of sexual gamesmanship worthwhile is the fearlessness of its leading lady and its uncanny ability to feel both cold and erotic at the same time. The finalé is obvious, the characters are thin, and it’s at least 15 minutes too long. No one will ever mistake Red Sparrow for a classic espionage thriller.
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