Now that the Hunger Games saga has concluded, Francis Lawrence can focus on other things. He returns Wednesday with Red Sparrow , a spy thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling and Jeremy Irons. Adapted from the novel The Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews, Red Sparrow tells the story of how a young ballerina whose career is shattered becomes a secret agent for Russia. Called Red Sparrow, these young women used their charm to get information.
Will Red Sparrow suffer from his comparisons?
Red Sparrow has suffered many comparisons. First with Atomic Blonde, David Leitch's vitamin thriller. A fatal blonde (Charlize Theron), an American intelligence agent, who struggles in East Berlin (and therefore in the Soviet Union) to carry out her mission. It is true that the comparison is easy, but Red Sparrow 's approach is totally different. Certainly there is Jennifer Lawrence, a fatal blonde, a strong woman, sexy and intriguing main character. There is also Russia. But the commonalities end there. David Leitch offered a relatively pop approach, with superb neon lights, stunning action scenes and a vitaminized staging à la Guy Ritchie. Here, Francis Lawrence prefers a more discreet, almost deliberately classical approach. Relatively slow, Red Sparrow offers some very violent, sober and cold action sequences. The filmmaker prefers espionage to action, unlike Atomic Blonde. The aesthetic approach is more refined but is supported by sublime, cold and dark photography.
The other comparison came from Marvel. Some have compared Red Sparrow to The Black Widow, the character played by Scarlett Johansson. Another strong woman, a fatal blonde, from the depths of Russia and dancer to top it off. But Red Sparrow is well adapted from the novel by Jason Matthews and it is indeed a pretty bad timing for the Marvel character. Especially since Marvel Studio had finally decided to produce an origin story on this character. Here's hoping Red Sparrow doesn't bury this project. But Red Sparrow manages to create his own identity, thanks to a concise and effective writing, but especially thanks to an impeccable cast, Jennifer Lawrence in the lead.
An impeccable cast and a relatively discreet approach
Francis Lawrence wanted to make an old-fashioned spy movie. Without diluting his subject in abusive action, the filmmaker prefers to stick to manipulations, false pretenses. An approach possible thanks to the work of the actors. Jennifer Lawrence obviously who is not afraid to get naked physically and mentally for the needs of her character. A young woman broken, hardened and above all manipulated by inhuman secret services. You should also know that red sparrows really existed. Joel Edgerton is convincing in his role as a charismatic and moral American, slightly cliché, but erased behind the performance of this actor who had recently distinguished himself in the powerful It Comes at Night. Finally, the Belgian Matthias Schoenaerts is stunning in the role of the Russian uncle. He is chilling but manages to grasp the subtlety and ambiguity of his character.
Francis Lawrence bases his story on a drawer script. Different levels and different twists punctuate Red Sparrow. Sometimes with a certain clumsiness but always with an unfailing conviction, Francis Lawrence weaves the webs of his scenario until the final twist, well brought but not necessarily very well explained. We will also regret an approach that is perhaps too Manichean, in which the Russians are undeniably the bad ones and the Americans the good guys. The character of Joel Edgerton appears as a savior, representing a nation free from the yoke of all-powerful Russia.
Sometimes cliché, patriotic, Red Sparrow does not have a very innovative purpose. But the mind games, the impeccable casting, the few good staging ideas and the rare scenes of violence, all wrapped in a twilight staging, allow Francis Lawrence's film to hold up.
