Calculated,
powerful, and a sophisticated sexiness that perhaps only Charlize Theron could bring to the role with such conviction. Her
performance was a 2017 Hollywood highlight when The Iconic Blonde was treated to Adelaide’s preview screening of Atomic Blonde on Wednesday night (thanks
to Universal Pictures).
Theron is utterly
brilliant in her portrayal of Lorraine Broughton, a British MI6 agent caught up
in a game of cat and mouse in a still-divided-by-a-wall setting of 1989 Berlin.
The film does not overwhelm us with the political setting of the time—nor does
it need to—but rather paints a dangerous backdrop for deceit, violence and
espionage between allied intelligence and the KGB at the tail end of the Cold
War.
Lorraine is tasked with recovering a list of double agents that, in the wrong hands, would influence international power relations and lead to a substantial amount of bloodshed. There’s plenty on the line, but Lorraine exudes confidence in her skillset and measured approach as she infiltrates the Soviets with fellow MI6 agent, David Percival (James McAvoy). Having already been situated in East Berlin, Percival seems to have formed connections that leave Lorraine questioning who she can trust. This is further complicated when both of them encounter French intelligence agent Delphine, played by the gorgeous Sophia Boutella. It is through this relationship that Lorraine is able to find clarity in the bigger picture.
Lorraine is tasked with recovering a list of double agents that, in the wrong hands, would influence international power relations and lead to a substantial amount of bloodshed. There’s plenty on the line, but Lorraine exudes confidence in her skillset and measured approach as she infiltrates the Soviets with fellow MI6 agent, David Percival (James McAvoy). Having already been situated in East Berlin, Percival seems to have formed connections that leave Lorraine questioning who she can trust. This is further complicated when both of them encounter French intelligence agent Delphine, played by the gorgeous Sophia Boutella. It is through this relationship that Lorraine is able to find clarity in the bigger picture.
As the story
unfolds, we are met with flash-forwards of discussions with her superiors (John Goodman, Toby Jones) about what
went down. It becomes glaringly obvious that, from the beginning, Lorraine was immersed
in a world where everything was not as it seemed. Like any good mystery, Atomic
Blonde keeps us guessing, but the writers do well to avoid a convoluted
storyline—in what can often be a vain Hollywood attempt to make it a ‘head-smasher.’
Instead, the strength of this movie is attested to a simple formula: an
excellent lead, powerful cinematography, and a memorable score. Theron’s
character displays her penchant for violence (and expertise in doing so)
throughout intense action scenes where critical moments are often broken down
with slo-mo to explicate the gravity of the situation. However, we are never
overcome by seriousness due to the tunes of the movie, where eighties euro-pop
is often employed throughout such sequences. Have you ever seen someone beaten
up to the sound of 99 Luftballons? Well, it’s weirdly perfect.
The score and
costume design do an incredible job in immersing us in the late eighties era of
Berlin. The film’s comedic relief is found in all the right places (often when
least expected) and it provides a perfect balance of thrill, mystery and
entertainment. While Theron is certainly the standout, the collective cast and
crew helps Atomic Blonde breathe life into a lacklustre few months for
Hollywood. If you’re looking for something that will keep you captivated and
don’t mind a bit of blood here and there, then this is a fantastic option for a
winter’s night out at the flicks.
★★★★½
Written by Julian
Cunningham
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