When a half-Chechen, half-Russian, brutally tortured immigrant turns up
in Hamburg's Islamic community, laying claim to his father's ill gotten
fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest: as
the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, the race is on to establish
this most wanted man's true identity - oppressed victim or
destruction-bent extremist? Based on John le Carré's novel, A MOST
WANTED MAN is a contemporary, cerebral tale of intrigue, love, rivalry,
and politics that prickles with tension right through to its last
heart-stopping scene.
Movie Reviews
A
Most Wanted Man (2014) was directed by Anton Corbijn. It's based on a
novel by John le Carré. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Basically, that's all you need to know about this movie.
Philip
Seymour Hoffman is Günther Bachmann, a self-described spy. (Actually a
counter-intelligence agent.) He's involved with a Chechen immigrant who
has been tortured. There's money going from Hamburg to terrorists, but
no one knows how this money gets there. Somehow the Chechen is involved.
On and on it goes, with the German police opposing Günther, the CIA
opposing Günther, and everyone betraying everyone else.
Günther
is burned out and, essentially, has no life other than being a spy. As
far as we can see, he never takes time off, he is interested in nothing
other than work, and he has no friends and no colleagues he can trust.
Hoffman portrays this part perfectly. No one could have done it as well.
A
Most Wanted Man is pure Carré, and pure Hoffman, and that's why you
should see it. If you're not impressed with Carré, or not impressed with
Hoffman, there's no point going to the film.
We saw the movie on
the large screen at the wonderful Dryden Theatre in Rochester, NY.
However, it will work just as well on the small screen. No scuba shots,
no mountain skiing shots--this isn't James Bond. If you know what to
expect--gritty shots of Hamburg, Germany--you won't be disappointed, and
the movie will work for you.
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