{"id":1930,"date":"2018-01-21T10:59:17","date_gmt":"2018-01-21T09:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-atomic-blonde\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T18:40:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T16:40:47","slug":"review-atomic-blonde","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-atomic-blonde\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Atomic Blonde"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some films can be surprising, defying preconceived notions regarding genre, design, and overall feel. Upon seeing the poster for Atomic Blonde<\/strong>, with Charlize Theron’s distinctive style and the involvement of director David Leitch (John Wick 2<\/strong>), initial expectations leaned towards a straightforward action film. However, the film proved to be much more than a simple popcorn flick.<\/p>\n Charlize and James on a walk in East Berlin.\n

Lorraine Broughton immerses herself in an ice bath, seeking respite from her injuries. She is summoned by her superiors to provide a detailed account of the events that transpired in East Berlin. Her mission involved infiltrating the city, investigating the disappearance of a fellow agent, and recovering a crucial list. Despite her experience, Broughton finds herself in immediate danger upon entering East Berlin, quickly realizing that trust is a rare commodity.<\/p>\n

The film exhibits strong production values and a gritty realism. The action sequences are highly stylized, and the fight choreography is well-executed. While David Leitch’s previous work on the John Wick<\/em> films is of comparable quality, Atomic Blonde<\/em> distinguishes itself with its grounding in a tangible, real-world setting.<\/p>\n The traffic is directly deadly.\n

Charlize Theron delivers a compelling performance in the lead role. Her portrayal evokes memories of Geena Davis in Long Kiss Goodnight<\/strong> (1996), establishing Theron as a worthy successor in the action genre. She adeptly balances toughness with vulnerability, avoiding any sense of parody. Her execution of stunts and action sequences is convincing, making her character’s combat prowess believable.<\/p>\n You don’t really know where you have him.\n

James McAvoy portrays David Percival, Broughton’s contact in Berlin. His character proves to be more complex than initially presented. McAvoy delivers a strong performance, projecting a hardened persona. One wonders if he could have channeled the same intensity into his role in Split<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Sofia Boutella plays French agent Delphine Lasalle. Boutella, previously seen as a double-amputee assassin in Kingsman: The Secret Service<\/strong>, demonstrates her versatility by taking on a role that is vastly different.<\/p>\n

Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd appears in a smaller but significant role, while John Goodman and Toby Jones deliver impactful supporting performances. Til Schweiger’s brief appearance feels somewhat disjointed, as if significantly cut during editing.<\/p>\n

While the acting, production design, and action sequences are commendable, the script ultimately serves as the foundation of the film. Unfortunately, its complexity becomes excessive, resulting in a convoluted narrative with too many twists crammed into a limited timeframe.<\/p>\n Impressive action scenes.\n

Overall, Atomic Blonde<\/em> is an engaging and entertaining film that warrants a viewing. The Blu-ray edition offers a crisp and clear picture with impactful audio. However, the absence of supplemental material is a notable drawback. In an era dominated by streaming services like Netflix, physical media releases must offer added value. While ample bonus content likely exists, the decision to release a bare-bones “Vanilla edition” on Blu-ray is disappointing. This omission negatively impacts the overall assessment of the Blu-ray release, lowering its score.<\/p>\n