Atomic Blonde (2017)

Directed by: David Leitch | 115 minutes | action, thriller | Actors: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Eddie Marsan, John Goodman, Toby Jones, James Faulkner, Roland Møller, Sofia Boutella, Bill Skarsgård, Sam Hargrave, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Til Schweiger, Barbara Sukowa, Attila Árpa, Martin Angerbauer

Many bruises and bruises and even two broken teeth… You have to give it something to create a seasoned action heroine. Charlize Theron spent five years working on ‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017) and invested millions in the film adaptation of ‘The Coldest City’, a comic book series by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart that immediately fascinated the actress. Not least because the native South African believes that women can play action heroes just as well as men. Especially if they, like themselves, are not afraid to get the necessary dings and dents. Theron often trained with Keanu Reeves in the run-up to shooting, who was preparing for ‘John Wick 2’ at the time. “He motivated me to push myself to the limit,” she says. “Some injuries were so severe that the make-up department didn’t even have to paint real wounds anymore.” That fight symbolizes Theron’s fight for more female lead roles in action movies. Because, she believes, why do women always have to have a reason to wave their hands? Why can’t they just kick ass like Jason Bourne and James Bond do? They never look for motivation, because everyone accepts that they fight because that is ‘part of the job’. So it is for Lorraine Broughton, the central character in ‘Atomic Blonde’. Theron: “She’s just a really good MI6 agent, period.”

Spy films are usually known for their (unnecessarily) complex story, which often does not make sense. ‘Atomic Blonde’ is no exception. The story takes place in one long flashback on the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. MI6 agent James Gascoigne (Sam Hargrave) is murdered by KGB agent Yuri Bakhtin (Jóhannes Jóhanneson), who steals The List from him. . This gem, hidden in a wristwatch, consists of a piece of microfilm and is highly sought after by all parties involved, because the names of all active double agents are on it. Ten days later, Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), one of MI6’s top spies, is interrogated by her boss Eric Gray (Toby Jones) and CIA chief Emmett Kurzfeld (John Goodman) about her mission to Berlin. The day after Gascoigne’s death, she is sent to the German capital to retrieve The List and take out Satchel, the veteran double agent who betrayed Gascoigne but whose identity is unknown. Upon arrival in Berlin, she is immediately surrounded by the troops of Aleksander Bremovych (Roland Moller), an arms dealer with close ties to the KGB. She then meets her main contact on the scene, MI6 agent David Percival (James McAvoy), and searches Gascoigne’s flat. Suspicions soon arise that Percival is a double agent Satchel. Bakhtin meanwhile announces to sell The List to the highest bidder…

Basically ‘Atomic Blonde’ is a spy thriller like we’ve seen so many before, but with a female heroine in the lead role. But Theron thought that wasn’t distinctive enough and asked screenwriter Kurt Johnstad for new ideas. He suggested a lesbian subplot, which is why Lorraine Broughton has an exciting chat with French undercover agent Delphine Lasalle (Sofia Boutella). Director David Leitch, who makes his debut with this film, emphasizes that the scene with Theron and Boutella is by no means intended to be provocative, but must emphasize that spies go to great lengths to obtain the necessary information. The fact is that the subplot barely adds anything, in a maze of intrigues that barely make sense. ‘Atomic Blonde’ has to rely more on the packaging than the content. And that packaging should be there. Leitch is originally a stuntman and coordinator, having worked on ‘Fight Club’ (1999), ‘The Matrix’ series and the Jason Bourne trilogy, so it will come as no surprise that the action scenes in particular are down to the last detail. be cared for. The action and stunt scenes are a true visual spectacle, with impressive fight choreographies, in which Charlize Theron (who was once a ballet dancer and knows how to handle these moves) impressively stands her ground.

Theron seems to have found her niche in Hollywood: action movies starring badass women. Her aura is powerful enough to captivate the audience from start to finish. Most people will let go of the plot halfway through, because it’s elusive (though the reveal of Satchel’s true identity isn’t much of a surprise), but with the visual spectacle, compelling action sequences and magnetic appeal of Theron, the there’s plenty to enjoy ‘Atomic Blonde’.