Atomic Blonde is sexy, boozy and violent — plus Charlie Theron as a no-nonsense secret agent is a winner
This action spy thriller is a great, fun movie despite its cliché ridden plot
We’re in Berlin, 1989, at the arse end of the Cold War.
The Wall is about to be pulled down.
In the real world U2 would just be landing to record Achtung Baby, but given the choice of that or Charlize Theron as a secret agent, kicking blokes in, drinking neat vodka in an ice bath to the sound of Depeche Mode’s ‘Behind the Wheel’ - apologise Bono, sorry The Edge - I’m out.
Atomic Blonde is a four to the floor, no nonsense action-spy thriller. All neon and bare brick with the best soundtrack I’ve heard since Baby Driver.
Theron plays the rather boringly named Lorraine Broughton, a super MI6 operative sent to Berlin to crack open a secret espionage ring who’ve decided to kill her fellow agents willy-nilly, including one she loved.
Along the way she teams up with the odd and lairy station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) - but who can be trusted?! (Answer: hardly anyone).
This is so stylish and so upfront in it’s intentions and influences (John Le Carré adapted by Frank Miller after a night at the Hacienda) it’s difficult to knock it.
Yes, it could have been cleverer with plot, clichés are bandied around a lot and flashbacks are used so often they end up completely distracting you from what you’re there for.
But with such an opulent film - who gives a stuff.
This is sexy, boozy, violent and cool and it’s pretty much down to it’s lead actor.
This would have been nothing without Theron.
The fitness levels needed to achieve the stunts and fight sequences must be extraordinary - let alone having to do it in thigh highs and stilettos and despite being Hollywood - a woman taking on what seems to be half the KGB single-handily is shown to be as bloody and violent as anything John Wick could muster - The blokes don’t give her a head start and she certainly doesn’t hold back.
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In fact, Atomic Blonde’s piece de la resistance is a 10 minute long hand-held tracking shot that takes you through a hotel fight sequence so brutal, so complicated and so well delivered it’ll blow your minds.
It really seals the deal - Theron is SO physical and so committed the gloss is sanded away into something a whole lot more (She also talks like Joanna Lumley and once you notice it.
You can’t help but picture this as some insane Ab Fab prequel!
Aside from her, the supporting cast are sublime - McAvoy, Toby Young, Eddie Marsan and John Goodman for goodness sake!
Atomic Blonde (15) 115mins
Rating: ★★★★☆