Rent A Most Wanted Man (2014)
3.2 of 5 from 615 ratings
1h 57min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Hamburg, the city where the 9/11 bombers lived and plotted, remains on high alert. When a suspected terrorist arrives in the city, he attracts the interest of a secret anti-terror unit who must uncover the truth about his identity and possible connections to high level terrorists. As the clock ticks down the race is on to establish this most wanted man's true motives - is he an oppressed victim or a militant terrorist hell-bent on destruction?
- Actors:
- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Daniel Brühl, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Homayoun Ershadi, Mehdi Dehbi, Neil Malik Abdullah, Nina Hoss, Vicky Krieps, Kostja Ullmann, Franz Hartwig, Martin Wuttke, Vedat Erincin, Rainer Bock, Derya Alabora, Tamer Yigit, Rene Lay, Herbert Grönemeyer, Georg Ebinal, Robin Wright
- Directors:
- Anton Corbijn
- Producers:
- Andrea Calderwood, Simon Cornwell, Stephen Cornwell, Gail Egan, Malte Grunert
- Writers:
- Andrew Bovell, John le Carré
- Studio:
- E1 Entertainment
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Thrillers
- Collections:
- 2015, CinemaParadiso.co.uk Through Time
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 19/01/2015
- Run Time:
- 122 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- The Making Of "A Most Wanted Man"
- Spymaster John Le Carre in Hamburg
More like A Most Wanted Man
Reviews (11) of A Most Wanted Man
More films like this please - A Most Wanted Man review by MD
It's great to see that all reviews of this film so far are positive, either 4 or 5 stars no less. Why? Not because it is Seymour Hoffman's last film, though that does add poignancy, but because it is the sort of thriller that just does not get made any more. By that I mean it has none of the lame bang 'em, shoot 'em up action of your normal Hollywood offering, it is intelligent, it is believable, it is relevant, and it packs an altogether more satisfying punch because of that. I thought the script and directing were excellent, and there is class acting throughout. Even that old ham Willem Dafoe is good, and as for Rachel McAdams, what a revelation! Watch for the "explosive" ending - extremely rare to see one that is so relevant to all that has gone before, yet still catches you unawares. All in all, a great film, up there with The Lives of Others.
7 out of 7 members found this review helpful.
An intelligent and engrossing film - A Most Wanted Man review by CP Customer
If you want lots of action, shooting, car chases, dare devil stunts etc in your spy thrillers then this film is not for you. If you want to watch restrained yet brilliant acting from Philip Seymour Hoffman - able to speak volumes through a glance, through a single facial expression - then it's a masterclass. The story builds slowly but surefootedly to its devastating climax. There are questions left unanswered by the end about some of the characters - but does that matter? That very ambiguity allows the viewer to use their own intelligence rather than needing spoon feeding all the background information. Visually it was great, wonderful symbolism in the photography, from the opening shot to the closing one. The only thing I would change is some of the accents, supposedly German - difficult to work out what was being said in some instances - at least watching on DVD can rewind and listen again if it feels you've missed something crucial. Overall an intelligent and engrossing film, would recommend it (as long as you don't crave action, shooting etc)
5 out of 5 members found this review helpful.
Excellent film about the Islamist threat to Europe - A Most Wanted Man review by PV
This film hooks you in the first few seconds and doesn't let go. I sat transfixed watching it (and used subtitles to better understand all the dialogue). It's from a John le Carre novel, so except lots of twists and turns.
Philip Seymour Hofman in what I think is his last role gives a superbly understated performance.
The labyrinthine layers of the secret service - or rather, secret services - and their skulduggery, competition, betrayals etc are dissected as the plot moves forward and the characters develop.
A really superb thriller, which I could watch more than once. This is in a whole different league to the usual Hollywood shoot-em-up movies about the same subject.
A very timely film too. I watch this the day before Jihadi John was named, and have just been looking at some so-called 'charities' for Palestinians and Syrian relief which syphon off a proportion of funds to send to Islamofascist terrorists. This film does not exaggerate a thing - this stuff is happening right now.
A brilliant film. 5 stars
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Critic review
A Most Wanted Man review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso
In one of the final roles of his career, Philip Seymour Hoffman seamlessly blends into the role of a world-weary German espionage agent dealing with Muslim affairs in Hamburg (the home base of the 9/11 hijackers). His quiet and gravelly voice with his tired expression come almost too naturally to Hoffman. One has to wonder how much of this was either just acting or drawing from his own life of personal demons. It’s a tragic reminder of a once revered actor, but also one of the best elements of an otherwise ho-hum espionage thriller.
In the post-9/11 setting of Germany, Chechen/Russian refugee Issa Karpov has illegally entered the country seeking asylum and is suspected to be a terrorist. Gunther Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman) leads an agency that spies on the Muslim community. His aspirations are not too high having been demoted to this position without the proper trust or materials to carry out this level of security. In addition to tailing Karpov, another target is Dr. Abdullah, a Muslim philanthropist believed to be funneling in money for terrorists acts. They’re naturally going to cross paths. Further complicating these investigations, however, are some interested parties that include German security official Mohr (Rainer Bock), American diplomat Sullivan (Robin Wright) and immigration lawyer Annabel (Rachel McAdams).
Bachmann does his best to play everyone in hopes that he can find out more about Karpov before his team nabs him. He holds Annabel in his custody for secretly aiding Karpov, hoping she’ll help him out. He does his best to keep Sullivan at bay in hopes that her influence won’t spring the trap too early. Oh, and there’s a banker involved as well (Willem Dafoe) who is holding the money of Karpov’s father. There are so many characters at play in this little dance of immigration and terrorism politics, not including Bachmann’s superiors that play a role as well.
Director Anton Corbijn does his best to create tension from a cold and quiet thriller. Not a single gun is fired, there’s barely any fights and the climactic car crash is far too quick. It’s an intricate spy game where characters appear two steps ahead or behind their allies and enemies. Just when it seems Bachmann has a lead, he’s just a few hours late. Just when Karpov has found an out, the hole gets deeper. It’s a frustrating game of stops and starts bogged down in the bureaucracy of trying to keep things safe and legal. Bachmann hangs for dear life to keep that thin thread intact amid the shears of a pushy government and dangerous terrorists.
Yet the mundanity of it all is ratcheted down to a level that requires the highest of attention levels. As a thriller, this isn’t much to keep you on the edge of your seat considering the wide enough margins between Karpov and the government. The film does its best to create some real tension from such small events as when Bachmann bites his nails if a bank document is signed. But it works best as a portrait of lost humanity in a world that has lost its trust for foreigners. Hamburg appears as a depressed metropolis of unease and a populace of uncertain intentions.
A Most Wanted Man is a meticulous thriller, slow and drab, but kept intriguing through Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance alone. He embodies the damaged human spirit of a world gone mad with paranoia on all fronts. His stumbling and mumbling show all the wear and tear of a dinosaur for a secure society without too much government or unchecked terrorism. It’s a depressing, yet telling performance that hits home a little hard for such a focus on a once great actor. Hoffman is the glue that holds this concise tale of a plot-heavy investigation which may be too detailed and lethargic for its own good.