Atomic Blonde- Review
What a pleasure it is to win movie tickets, especially to advanced preview screenings. It's initial USA release is set for July 28th so it was really a treat to see it before our big competitors overseas. Atomic Blonde is a sleek, stylish and action-packed rollercoaster of adventure directed by David Leitch (who also happened to have directed John Wick) and features the talents of Charlize Theron and James McAvoy.
While the idea of spy movies is now growing tired and seemingly sucking the Earth dry of ideas, this was one very unique film. In a world where remakes and sequels are continuously being pumped out like canned beans, this film made all the difference. Having only watched tiny pieces of the trailer, I was expecting it to be somewhat hi-tech and overzealous. Rather, it was anything but. It sticks to an appropriate timeline and does not jump too far ahead in time which makes viewing and understanding easier.
Dark, brutal and raw, adding comedy to this movie would be senseless and inappropriate. That's why there isn't any, aside from one moment where the tension loosens and makes room for a single exhale of the nostrils. The handiwork of this film was exceptional, everything from the beautiful focussed cinematography to the flashback narrative aim.
Stylistically, fashion was not so aesthetically pleasing in the 80s but the colours and design in this film were. Neon lights lit up an evidently conflicted Berlin and added a sense of beauty and style amidst the miserable Cold War predicament.
The combat scenes were just brilliant. There was no holding back as blood sprayed across the screen and fists contacting faces. Each action scene was carefully crafted to appear realistic and bloody all thanks to David Leitch who used to be a stuntman and choreographed stunts. His work is reflected very strongly here and there's barely any musical scores at all while these are taking place. For added realism you can hear each painful groan and grunt as characters take hits and try to become resilient after them.
The performances: Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton, our leading female and MI6 badass provided the role of every female protagonist we could ever want. In what appeared to be a Debbie Harry get up, she was dangerous and powerful in the most elegant way. One thing I will say, I noticed a few shifts in her accent a couple of times. Putting an accent on that is not native is a difficult task at times but I won't hold this as a flaw to her performance as it was barely audible. Nonetheless, her accent was accurate and she did well.
James McAvoy as David Percival, Lorraine's colleague was an interesting take. Always entertaining, James' again portrayed a character that could be moulded like putty in his hands. David Percival had been shaped to appear kooky, eccentric and alternative. He never faltered to deliver and his role really packed the extra punch. It is hard to see anyone else try and play the role and if it hadn't of been James as David, this film may have taken a different journey.
What's every 80s (and 80s inspired) film without a master soundtrack? As if I couldn't appreciate the film enough, hearing some of my favourite 80s tunes in this movie was a pure delight. Particularly Blue Monday by New Order and Der Kommissar by Falco.
A breathtakingly beautiful film with strong characters, history and action themes not to underestimated.
Score: 8/10.