Filmrajongó

A film "Celeb Spy" (Atomic Blonde), directed by David Leitch, stars Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Sofia Boutella, and Toby Jones in this 2017 American action thriller, running for 115 minutes. (Rated R)

Imagine if James Bond or Jason Bourne were women. "Celebrity Spy" tackles this question, with the answer embodied by the still stunning and graceful Charlize Theron.

Even educational TV channels thrive in the market, and the viewership they garner is not insignificant. Nowadays, there are more and more shows that let insiders take us into the world of secret operations, training methods, tactics, and so on. Personally, I prefer to watch a compelling spy film that is likely closer to reality. The fall of the Berlin Wall didn't only mark the end of the Cold War from the Western perspective; it also had its own sense of romance. A whole era came to an end for the spy profession, only to make way for something new. Our story, interestingly enough, takes place in Berlin during this time. Despite the East and West coming closer, many secrets were unveiled, but literature and filmmaking still like to play with stereotypes (as the other side imagined them), especially when it comes to fictional stories. The characters are almost caricatures of themselves, and the locations, vehicles, costumes, and sets aim to capture the essence of the whole (often cramming everything into a single frame, creating a sense of congestion), rather than reality and everyday life. This is further enhanced by the "anything goes, and nothing is impossible" factor. The film is based on the 2012 comic book titled "The Coldest City," written and illustrated by prominent figures in the industry.

The basic premise is to obtain a list hidden in a wristwatch, and as is typical in such cases, the list contains the identities of spies, along with uncomfortable information about their dealings and habits. It's no wonder that every self-respecting intelligence agency wants to get their hands on it. After the death of her partner, Atomic Blonde, also known as Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), is dispatched to Berlin to establish contact with David Percival (James McAvoy), an agent, and together, they attempt to secure the wristwatch. Lorraine reports to her superiors about the mission that has already taken place (see the film "Spy Game," which was also shot in our country), and from her account, it's clear that she has had a tough week, as confirmed by the blue-green bruises.

I recently watched a movie on TV where Gina Carano (Deadpool, Fast & Furious 6) beats everyone to a pulp. It wasn't bad, but Gina is a multiple-time champion in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), so, I think it's not a big deal for her. It's a different story when Charlize Theron does the same, whose appearance still radiates beauty and grace, nearing 42, with a background in modeling and ballet. We've seen her play tough roles in several movies, but "Atomic Blonde" surpasses everything she's done before. What makes this all work is, on one hand, Charlize's physical and technical preparation for the role, and, on the other hand, the fight scenes are truly well choreographed. The adrenaline in the viewer surges, leaving little room for doubts about the authenticity of the action. By the time the thought "well, this couldn't happen" crosses your mind, the KGB thug with a bullet through his forehead, or in luckier cases, limbs shattered, lies unconscious on the stairwell. The plot isn't overly complicated, and despite numerous twists, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. What we see and hear is primarily a mixture of spectacular car chases, gunfights, and fistfights, with the humorous one-liners from the dialogues sticking with us.

Perhaps it's not a coincidence that the adaptation was done by Kurt Johnstad, who also worked on "300" and "300: Rise of an Empire," and in the director's chair, we have a stuntman and coordinator, David Leitch (Fight Club, Blade, X-Men, and Bourne films, etc.). He hasn't directed much yet, with a Deadpool short film and the fight scenes in John Wick under his belt, along with the yet-to-be-seen Deadpool 2. Although it's a well-executed, complete production, what caught my attention in "Atomic Blonde" are the finer details, as there are some really impressive and original ones. It's a mixed feeling to see Budapest on the big screen, with my hometown seemingly destined to remain a backdrop for events from the last century, and I'm not referring to preservation and heritage protection. It's a different experience to see the buildings bearing the traces of World War II and the 1956 revolution and freedom fight.

Speaking of 1989, major kudos to the people in charge of the film's music, as it has everything that regularly makes a comeback from the 80s (or rather never goes out of style). "The Coldest City" is part of a trilogy, so if it's well-received, the story of David Percival and a Soviet dissident, set a few years earlier and published in 2016 as "The Coldest Winter," might also hit the theaters. "Atomic Blonde" may try to present itself as a bit cooler than it actually is, but Charlize Theron grabs the thread and her opponents' balls with such skill that we can forgive her for that.