Movie Review: Fallen ballerina flies higher as seductress
Published Feb 18, 2018 09:38 am
MOVIE REVIEW:
“Red Sparrow” stars Jennifer Lawrence, as Dominika Egorova, devoted daughter to her ailing mother, and a celebrated prima-ballerina in Russia’s esteemed Bolshoi Ballet. After a tragic accident puts her career at risk, she is forced to take on less savory employment as an agent of the state.
Jennifer Lawrence in 'Red Sparrow'
One could be forgiven for thinking that “Red Sparrow,” this new spy thriller from director Francis Lawrence, is somehow a rip off of Marvel’s character, Black Widow. There are similarities, after all, such as the codename, both characters being Russian, and both being femme fatales. But in actuality, aside from those and the repeating imagery of ballet between the two characters, they are quite different.
“Red Sparrow,” is, for one thing, unapologetically sexy. It sports a hard R-16 rating, something that the director thought was important to keep. Morality and sexuality are a large part of the story, and so the decision was made to keep not shy away from it but to accept it and use it to further the plot. As a result there is a lot of skin being thrown around in the movie (in more ways than one, you’ll see), and things get hot and steamy very often, very fast.
Lawrence’s character engages many acts that would make Mata Hari blush, and Lawrence herself faces the challenge head-on, giving a strength and vulnerability to the fallen ballerina turned seductress. The scenes are raw and disconcerting to say the least, but done in such a way so as to not feel gratuitous. And while we can assume The Black Widow too would use her feminine wiles on a unsuspecting victim when necessary to complete her mission, you can be sure she’ll be doing it while dressed, and will be decidedly PG-13 about the whole thing.
Secondly, there are no gadgets more advanced than a cellular phone in the entire film. No orbital satellite watchdogs following anyone or hi-tech weapons concealed in a ball point pen. “Red Sparrow” is a more grounded spy film, more cerebral than spectacular. The emphasis is on trust, to whom do you give it, from whom should you expect it, and in either case, how is it manipulated for one’s own purposes.
Fresh from his turn as an Orc in Netflix’s hit original movie, “Bright,” Joel Edgerton joins Lawrence as Nathaniel Nash, the CIA agent Dominika comes across. As is often the case with espionage films, you are never entirely sure whether one is playing the other, and that generates much tension and interest.
Sexy, smart and full of twists and turns that keep one guessing, “Red Sparrow” is thrilling spy film, and a welcome change from the usual blockbuster fare.
Jennifer Lawrence in 'Red Sparrow'
One could be forgiven for thinking that “Red Sparrow,” this new spy thriller from director Francis Lawrence, is somehow a rip off of Marvel’s character, Black Widow. There are similarities, after all, such as the codename, both characters being Russian, and both being femme fatales. But in actuality, aside from those and the repeating imagery of ballet between the two characters, they are quite different.
“Red Sparrow,” is, for one thing, unapologetically sexy. It sports a hard R-16 rating, something that the director thought was important to keep. Morality and sexuality are a large part of the story, and so the decision was made to keep not shy away from it but to accept it and use it to further the plot. As a result there is a lot of skin being thrown around in the movie (in more ways than one, you’ll see), and things get hot and steamy very often, very fast.
Lawrence’s character engages many acts that would make Mata Hari blush, and Lawrence herself faces the challenge head-on, giving a strength and vulnerability to the fallen ballerina turned seductress. The scenes are raw and disconcerting to say the least, but done in such a way so as to not feel gratuitous. And while we can assume The Black Widow too would use her feminine wiles on a unsuspecting victim when necessary to complete her mission, you can be sure she’ll be doing it while dressed, and will be decidedly PG-13 about the whole thing.
Secondly, there are no gadgets more advanced than a cellular phone in the entire film. No orbital satellite watchdogs following anyone or hi-tech weapons concealed in a ball point pen. “Red Sparrow” is a more grounded spy film, more cerebral than spectacular. The emphasis is on trust, to whom do you give it, from whom should you expect it, and in either case, how is it manipulated for one’s own purposes.
Fresh from his turn as an Orc in Netflix’s hit original movie, “Bright,” Joel Edgerton joins Lawrence as Nathaniel Nash, the CIA agent Dominika comes across. As is often the case with espionage films, you are never entirely sure whether one is playing the other, and that generates much tension and interest.
Sexy, smart and full of twists and turns that keep one guessing, “Red Sparrow” is thrilling spy film, and a welcome change from the usual blockbuster fare.