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08/10/2017 12:01 AMRated R
Charlize Theron spends almost the entire film on screen in Atomic Blonde, based on the graphic novel series, The Coldest City. She is either seducing the camera and characters with a cool, in-control stare, or slashing and kicking through hordes of men out to kill her. As Lorraine Broughton, Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Huntsman: Winter’s War) plays an intelligent, efficient MI6 operative, a survivalist in the not-so-cold Cold War as the Berlin Wall is coming down in November 1989.
Atomic Blonde’s intricate spy game begins with retrieving a list of double agents, and maneuvering among other untrustworthy agents and enemy spies. James McAvoy (X-Men series, Victor Frankenstein) plays David Percival, her contact in Berlin, who has his own agenda and secrets. Back and forth from her interview after the operation to the tumultuous attempts by the characters to get the list, Lorraine proves herself calculating, superior at combat—Theron does many of her own stunts—and able to outwit everyone in her path.
Theron is sultry (a little overboard at times) and provocative until she raises her fists. Director David Leitch (Deadpool 2), a stunt man of 85 films, brings his physicality to Atomic Blonde, especially in prolonging Theron’s slow strides across the screen, and puts all the actors to work vigorously. The slaughters rumble along like the Jason Bourne thrillers. Only Theron’s British accent slips up, more than occasionally.
The only quiet moments include John Goodman (Kong: Skull Island, 10 Cloverfield Lane), playing Emmett Kurzfeld, the C.I.A. representative, with character actor Toby Jones (TV’s Marvellous, Wayward Pines) as MI6 agent Eric Gray, and a stoic James Faulkner (TV’s Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey) as Chief ‘C.’ They calmly interrogate Lorraine, providing a respite from the speedy flashbacks. Also slowing down the action, Sophia Boutella, formerly cast in Star Trek Beyond and 2017’s The Mummy, plays the seemingly innocent French operative, Delphine LaSalle, who tracks Lorraine. The two then share information and sex.
The camera work, often framed by hazy pinks and oranges and backed by ramped-up ‘80s tunes, plays a major part. Often a scene lingers on Lorraine’s face, then centers on simultaneous moves by characters to imprint their connection. Lorraine drinks vodka on the flight to Berlin; David slugs from a bottle escaping down a tunnel, and they meet soon after. In another sequence, the camera speeds up everyone in a bar scene triple-time, except Lorraine and David, perched on bar stools in the center. Later, in more harsh light, the camera watches Lorraine and an opponent as they stagger around, exhausted from beating each other up. It’s almost funny, their dance to catch a breath before going the next round.
Near the end, signaled by Lorraine and David’s efforts to move Spyglass (Eddie Marsan: Their Finest, TV’s Ray Donovan), a mousy man who has memorized the infamous list, across to West Berlin, their efforts twist and turn until the viewer doesn’t know who will be revealed as a double agent. This portion of the film is meant to be confusing, but works well, and Theron and McAvoy keep everyone guessing.
McAvoy and Theron persevere with the frenetic pace of Atomic Blonde. Theron is permitted only a moment or two of vulnerability, but as Lorraine she expertly explodes into battle mode, then effortlessly switches off with a confident, enigmatic smile.
Have you seen a movie recently that you’ve loved, or are you excited about one coming up? Send a short description of the movie and why you like it, to Pem McNerney at p.mcnerney@shorepublishing.com, along with a selfie of you at the movies. We’ll share it with our readers!