Review: A Most Wanted Man

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, was unarguably one of the most brilliant actors of my generation.  His on-screen performances were always infused with humor, passion and a realism that always made you forget he was an actor in a role.  Even though his physical presence is no longer with us, like our dear departed Robin Williams, we have their presence on film to remind us of their brilliance anytime we wish.

This is one of the reasons I was extremely excited to see what is being touted as Hoffman’s last film role in A Most Wanted Man opposite Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright and Willem Dafoe.

Based on John le Carré’s novel, A MOST WANTED MAN is a contemporary, cerebral tale of intrigue, love, rivalry, and politics that infuses tension right through to its last heart-stopping scene. When a brutally tortured immigrant turns up in Hamburg’s Islamic community, laying claim to his father’s fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest.   As the clock ticks down and the stakes rise, the race is on to establish this most wanted man’s true identity – oppressed victim or terrorist on the down-low? 

Hoffman does a stellar job as Gunther Bachman, a German security agency head, who desperately wants no mistakes to be made on this case to make up for a previously botched investigation which damaged his reputation.  Ironically, he is convincingly conned by US Intelligence op Martha Sullivan played deliciously by Robin Wright, who reminds us why we love her soooo much on Netlix’s House of Cards.  

Although this film moved a little slow until the last 30-minutes, those last 30 minutes totally kept my attention and left my mouth hanging open from pure, unadulterated shock!

If you like a little intrigue and action in your movie going experience…A Most Wanted Man will definitely fill your appetite.  A Most Wanted Man is in theaters now.