According to a real-life former double agent,Red Sparrowstarring Jennifer Lawrence features an “appropriate” depiction of one espionage tactic. Released in 2018,Red Sparrowis directed by Francis Lawrence and based on a 2013 novel of the same name by author Jason Matthews. TheCold War spy thrillerfeatures Lawrence as Dominika Egorova, a former ballerina who joins an elite Soviet team of “Sparrows,” operators trained to use seduction to achieve their espionage goals.
In a recent video forInsider, former double agent Naveed Jamali analyzes a sequence inRed Sparrowin which Lawrence’s character is deep undercover organizing criminal deal. According to Jamali, the film gets a lot right when it comes to espionage, including the challenges of seemingly straightforward tasks like assigning prices to illicit items as a spy. Dominka’s swapping of sensitive information is also deemed “plausible,” though Jamali stresses just how high risk it would be. Check out his comments below, as well as his score forRed Sparrowout of 10:
“A price of $250,000 is believable because… it’s important to understand that when it comes to an intelligence service, $250,000 is not a big thing for them. However, the question of what you charge is something that I struggled with quite a bit. And I think in many cases, it’s not like you can go to indeed.com and look at what the comps are. So you have to come up with your own framework of money.
“This idea of swapping out information, I suppose it’s plausible. Certainly, it would lead to the potential of the double agent being exposed. It is absolutely realistic to look at Sparrow and to see someone sort of ad libbing it.
“That was certainly the case with me. There was one point where I met with Oleg and we were showing him a database that had access to a real time. And at point he just pointed to a document and said, ‘Can I have this?’ And he’s like, ‘Well, I have a thumb drive, can you just put it on this?’ In that brief second, I had to make a decision. What would be my reason to say no?
“So I’m going to give this an eight [out of 10]. That scene, I think, is appropriate in terms of Jennifer Lawrence and how she handles herself.”
What Red Sparrow’s Realism Grade Means For The Film’s Reputation
How The Jennifer Lawrence Film Was Recieved Critically & Commercially
Red Sparrowearned mixed reviews from critics upon its release. OnRotten Tomatoes, the film currently has a lackluster critics' score of only 45%, though it did fare slightly better with audiences at 51%. In general,the film was criticized for its convoluted plot and its focus on graphic violence and sex over a strong story with compelling characters. Lawrence’s performance was, however, a common point of praise. Made on an estimated budget of $69 million,Red Sparrowwas ultimately a modest box office success, grossing $151.6 million worldwide.
Every Jennifer Lawrence Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
From her breakout role in Winter’s Bone to her Oscar win for Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence has starred in some great movies.
The fact thatRed Sparrowfeatures some strong realism, then, is certainly a redeeming quality. The film marked Lawrence’s first major film effort afterThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2(2015), which Francis Lawrence also directed, and it was a noticeable turn towards darker, more mature material after so many yearsplaying Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence also, notably, hasn’t taken on another R-rated action thriller role sinceRed Sparrow.
Francis Lawrence has directed every installment in theHunger Gamesfranchiseexcept for the 2012 original, which was directed by Gary Ross.
Our Take On Red Sparrow’s Realism
Why The Spy Thriller Remains A Worthwhile Watch
Though parts ofRed Sparroware worth celebrating, it’s Lawrence’s performance that’s the real standout element. With her work in theHunger Gamesfranchise and beyond,Lawrence continues to prove just how versatile she is a performer, andRed Sparrowshowed audiences a significantly different version of the actor than they were used to seeing.
Though the 2016 spy thriller may not be getting a sequel, the film certainly suggests that Lawrence would excel should she ever take on another role in an R-rated action thriller.Red Sparrow, despite its shortcomings, remains a compelling watch, and it marked an interesting shift for the actor’s career.
Red Sparrow
Cast
Based on the novel by Jason Matthews, Red Sparrow stars Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova, a former ballerina turned Russian intelligence officer who becomes involved in a plot to root out CIA agents operating in Russia. Assigned to get closer to agent Nate Nash, Dominika begins to question her commitment to her country when Nash offers her the opportunity to become a double agent. Joel Edgerton, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jeremy Irons also star.
