MOVIE NEWS – The new spy action thriller The Amateur features Rami Malek as Charles Heller, a desk-bound CIA cryptographer who transforms into a relentless avenger after his wife is murdered by terrorists. The film is based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel of the same name, which was previously adapted into a lesser-known film starring John Savage. While both versions share the same origin story, their treatment of themes like vengeance and terrorism diverges dramatically.

Rami Malek’s latest role in The Amateur revives a Cold War-era spy thriller few remember. In this new version, Malek plays Charles Heller, a CIA cryptographer whose life is shattered when his wife is murdered. The tragedy launches him into a high-tech mission for revenge, traveling the globe to find her killers. The film is based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel, which was previously adapted into a gritty movie starring John Savage. While both adaptations begin the same way, their interpretations of revenge and terrorism diverge significantly.

The Original Was Brutal, Uncompromising, and Far More Political

Unlike the modern remake, which plays out like a polished spy drama and steers clear of political commentary, the 1981 film leaned heavily into its themes. In the current version, Sarah’s death is caused by random mercenaries during a botched bank robbery in London. By contrast, the original movie and the book place her in a hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Munich, where she’s executed by radical terrorists. That scene—Sarah begging for her life, then being shot on live broadcast—is one of the most harrowing moments of the film.

The older adaptation connects Charles’ revenge arc to deeper historical trauma. In the book, Sarah reveals she’s Jewish to save other hostages, prompting the terrorists to kill her. In the film, Charles later meets her father, a Holocaust survivor who explains that revenge was the only way he coped with the loss of his family. That conversation plants the seed for Charles to follow a similar path—and turn vengeance into catharsis.

Malek’s Take on Charles Lacks the Raw Edge of John Savage

Though Malek is older than Savage was in 1981, his portrayal feels sleeker, more internal, and ultimately more detached. Savage brought a world-weariness and grim focus to the role, rooted in the Cold War atmosphere the original film embraced. His haunted presence called back to his performances in The Deer Hunter and The Onion Field, making him a perfect fit for the gritty, analog world of Cold War espionage.

Malek’s version, by contrast, leans heavily into digital warfare and psychological nuance. His character evokes shades of Mr. Robot’s Elliot Alderson, and the production’s high-tech aesthetics feel more Bond than Bourne. Though not Malek’s fault, the remake’s emphasis on gadgets over grief robs his performance of the emotional weight that Savage delivered. The new film is smart, but it’s missing the gut punch.

Both Films Struggle with Believability

The 2025 remake, much like its predecessor, suffers from implausible character development. Heller’s transformation from analyst to operative is crammed into just ten minutes of screen time, undermining the journey’s credibility. From then on, he consistently outsmarts both government agents and hired guns, despite having no prior field training—an idea that even the film seems unsure how to justify.

That said, the original version is more self-aware. It embraces Charles’ inexperience as an advantage—he’s erratic, unpredictable, and driven purely by emotion. It also dares to confront difficult questions about terrorism and vengeance, at least for a while, before settling into a more conventional genre structure. The remake avoids these complexities, opting instead for polished action and safer storytelling. For those curious, The Amateur (1981) is streaming on Hulu. The 2025 remake is now playing in theaters.

Source: MovieWeb