A Most Wanted Man

Starring;
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Rachel McAdams
Robin Wright
Willem Defoe
Grigoriy Dobrygin


Director;
Anton Corbijn

In three words; Tense - Slow - Real

Review;
Based on John Le Carré's 2008 book of the same name A Most wanted Man is a tense and realistic thriller. Issa Karpov (Dobrygin) is a refugee from Chechnya who enters Germany illegally and heads to Hamberg in an attempt to make contact with a wealthy banker, Tommy Brue (Defoe) to obtain his assistance as both their fathers were known to each other. In steps Günther Bachmann (Hoffman), a German espionage agent who, along with his team, has been obtaining intelligence via the local Muslim community regarding to the funding of terrorism abroad.

Bachmann sees an opportunity to obtain evidence of an influential and wealthy Muslim business man who is believed to be the broker in Germany who is channelling money to a fronted business who funds the terrorists. Karpov enlists the help of immigration lawyer Annabel Richter (McAdams) to assist in his cause.

The plot is well thought out and although the screenplay differs from the book director Anton Corbijn is able to bring suspense and thrills throughout the first hour. However, after that the build up of the story is moved down several gears and we are presented with a frustratingly slow finish. The tension does build again towards the end but it shouldn't have been derailed in the first place. A neater script would have assisted or perhaps a non chronological approach to the story telling would have made this a much better thriller.

Performance wise Hoffman is brilliant. Günther Bachmann is a man who is working all day every day, is only down time is sitting in a bar drinking and smoking. He is reeling from a  recent disastrous mission yet we aren't privy to the details. What is apparent is the responsibility he feels and he carries on his shoulders everyday. Hoffman expertly portrays the attributes of a lost man. Given the way Hoffman was taken away from us one has to consider how much of this was performance and how much was him.

There is a fine supporting cast with Willem Defoe on particular fine form although I wanted to see much more from the very capable Rachel McAdams. I feel her screen time was underused and her character diminished by her quasi romantic relationship with Karpov, who was played brilliantly by Dobrygin.

Director Anton Corbijn does present a realistic story and uses the bleak and grey background of Hamberg extremely well. Nonetheless the film will be remembered for a brilliant performance by the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman.


Verdict;
3 out of 5.