A message from a secret informant arrives and Charlie sees that his supervisor is possibly linked to some unsanctioned actions that had tragic results and is advised to keep whatever he knows quiet from a co-worker.
When Charli is called into meet the new Director he assumes it is related to the information he received but sadly he is informed that Sarah was killed by a group who attacked the hotel where her conference was being held.
With his world on shambles, Charlie uses his skills to identify those behind the death of his wife and is shocked when he learns that nothing is going to be done as her death and those involved do not fit into the bigger picture plans.
This forces Charlie to use the information he has to leverage the situation where he will get training and go after them himself which sets a target on him by those with secrets to hide.
An operative named Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), attempts to train Charlie but notes that his marksmanship is very poor and that he simply is not a killer and should stick with the skills that he has.
With danger all around him, Charlie heads to Europe to find his targets and will stop at nothing to see his revenge carried out even when his inexperience holds him back.
The movie is a slow burn that does not rely on the usual mix of massive explosions and high-powered action sequences. Instead it is a cerebral drama where Charlie finds his way through situations on his own terms and his inexperience and shortcomings causes him to find creative solutions to get what he wants.
The performances are solid and make “The Amateur”, a very enjoyable film that does not rely on the usual formula and is confident enough to let an unconventional hero carry the story.
4 stars out of 5
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