The original title of the new film by James Hawes, The Amateur (which is also the title of Robert Littel’s novel from which the film is drawn), covers the contours of a reluctant protagonist, thrown himself despite in a world of violence. The Italian nomenclature, Operation Vendetta, instead, leaves little room for doubts: that released on April 10 for 20th Century Studios Italy available on Disney+ and on August 21, 2026 on Sky and NOW is, in everything and for everything, a revenge movie.
Operazione vendetta: dove non arrivano i muscoli
Charlie works for the CIA, but his life is far from action. Every day it descends into the basement, turns on the computer and immerses itself in a world of data to be decrypted and anonymous sources to check. The murder of his wife Sarah by mysterious mercenaries during a business trip leads Charlie to react in the only way he knows: digging, investigating, bringing the truth to the open. And when he understands that the Agency will do nothing to help him he will find himself to force the matter, forcing his superiors to get him to train as an operative and taking revenge in his own hands.
Il revenge movie in un mondo post-John Wick
Charlie is an interesting character, however deeply formulated: a common man, capable but mild, brought beyond the breaking point. This unfortunately structurally is a problem for Operation Vendetta, which leaves its protagonist with nothing to lose and without any kind of perspective. If we think of the proto-revenge movie of the last decade, John Wick, the protagonist is standing around the world in a vortex of shootings, but always towards the suggestion of a small light at the bottom of the tunnel, as well as the hope of a quiet life. Without this emotional motivation the structure arrives in a location – setpiece – arrival in other location – other setpiece – etc. is a little empty.
Operazione vendetta: dove non arriva la sceneggiatura
This said, Operation Vendetta manages to satisfy the shortcomings of the basic material doing well what it does. Charlie is perfectly in the typecast of Rami Malek, who approaches the role with all the nuance and precision he has accustomed us to. The rest of the cast is full of guys we love to see, from a Laurence Fishburne who as always does mentor to a very good Holt McCallany. The whole technical sector is more than competent, and the film enjoys a very immersive look &feel. In short: high and low for a revenge movie without surprises, but that moves in the genre with ability.
Il cast
Rami Malek is Charlie Heller, a CIA analyst who decides to take the path of revenge when his wife Sarah, played by Rachel Brosnahan, is killed on a business trip. Lawrence Fishburne is Henderson, instructor of the Agency to which it is given the task of making Charlie a deadly operative. Holt McCallany is director Moore, a big CIA piece, while Jon Bernthal is Jackson “the bear”, an elite operative. In the cast also Adrian Martinez and Catriona Balfe.
L’articolo Operation Vendetta on Sky and NOW, the review: intrigue and action with an atypical protagonist proviene da Dituttounpop.it.
