The Amateur: Struggles to Deliver Suspense and Fails as a Thriller

This was easily one of the longest two hours I’ve sat through in a while. The movie was a complete slog, boring, slow, and lacking any real payoff. The premise itself wasn’t particularly exciting to begin with, but considering the stacked cast involved, I expected at least something more compelling, especially for a suspense thriller.

Laurence Fishburne was the only standout. He brought some presence and weight to his role, and his character was genuinely the most interesting part of the film. Everyone else felt underused or completely forgettable. There was no emotional connection to the characters, and because of that, I never really cared what was happening or why.

Jon Bernthal’s character is hyped as a key figure, but he shows up for two brief scenes that do absolutely nothing to move the story forward. Rami Malek gives a passable performance, but his character is incredibly flat. His entire revenge arc is dull, poorly written, and difficult to invest in. There’s no tension or sense of urgency to keep you interested.

The biggest issue is the direction. The movie is choppy and incoherent from a narrative standpoint. It jumps around without a clear purpose or momentum, and the pacing drags to the point of frustration. Scenes that should build suspense fall flat, and attempts at emotional weight feel unearned and empty.

Visually, there’s nothing particularly striking either. Even with a few atmospheric shots, the lack of compelling storytelling and character depth overshadows everything.

By the time it ends, you're left wondering what the point of it all was. The film doesn't offer any payoff, nor does it leave a lasting impression. It’s forgettable in every sense.

Honestly, unless you need something to help you fall asleep, I wouldn’t recommend this one. Not much happens, and what little does happen isn’t worth your time. This had potential with the cast attached, but the final product is messy, unengaging, and far from thrilling.