Atomic Blonde (15)

Director: David Leitch

Starring: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman

Running time: 115 minutes

9/10

Some of the sequences in John Wick were directed by the director of Atomic Blonde,David Leitch, so you would be forgiven for thinking that perhaps we were going to get a retro, female version of the afore-mentioned film.

Charlize Theron is our lead here, playing secret agent Lorraine Broughton, trying to track down a list of agents that will spell disaster for the Cold War effort in 1989.

Glasgow Times:

Like Lorraine, we find ourselves dumped into Berlin on the eve of the iconic tearing down of the wall, and we learn all this as Lorraine is narrating the events of the movie to her mysterious superiors.

Cue various scrapes and escapades, as our blonde Modesty Blaze gets wrapped in a vicious and confusing tapestry of dnger and deceit.

James McEvoy is brilliant as usual as a point of contact for Lorraine, and the usual spy tropes unfold.

We have car chases, hallway fight scenes, sexy counter agents and an amazing 80s soundtrack that accompanies the action sequences.

The film is stylish and over the top, with Berlin all neon lights and alley ways, while the performances are slick and engaging.

Glasgow Times: Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton

It is a very violent film, and a fight scene where we see our heroine being badly beaten was uneasy to watch and possibly too gratuitous, but with the genre being what it is, I suppose we should expect that?

It has a bit of a pacing problem in the second act, but when the action begins it really is worth the wait.

My only gripe would be the framing of the film.

We know Lorraine survives this mission - as she is essentially telling the story to the audience - so a little of the tension is lost, but this is a cracking action thriller where fans of 80s music will defintely enjoy playing name that tune.