A Most Wanted Man
Roadside Attractions | Release Date: July 25, 2014
7.0
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 167 Ratings
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122
Mixed:
33
Negative:
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User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
TVJerryJul 29, 2014
The appearance of an immigrant in Hamburg spikes the interest of a secret anti-terrorist group headed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Thus begins a tedious, low-key operation to discover the man's true threat. Based on a novel by John le Carré,The appearance of an immigrant in Hamburg spikes the interest of a secret anti-terrorist group headed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Thus begins a tedious, low-key operation to discover the man's true threat. Based on a novel by John le Carré, this is much more about patient procedure than action or chases. Every scene plays out slowly with no tension and lots of looking. Hoffman creates a mildly compelling character, but the ever-present cig and swig is an unoriginal way to signify a flawed character. There's some interesting intrigue, but the pacing is so slow that it tries your patience.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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6
FranzHcriticAug 3, 2014
A film that kept me going, gave me humanity: drama, some comic relief and subtlety. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives it his all for us, in his final real performance. Then, at the ending, all fell to the deepest level of bulls**t I can imagine.A film that kept me going, gave me humanity: drama, some comic relief and subtlety. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives it his all for us, in his final real performance. Then, at the ending, all fell to the deepest level of bulls**t I can imagine. And I would like to note on the performance of Rachel McAdams; FInd an actress with a nice ass who can act, or have a somewhat decent accent. The subtlety ended, so did all the relics of a good spy film. All crashed to f**king pieces. Collapse… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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6
LouisThorndonSep 20, 2014
Very slow and the ending is unconvincing. Ending is really framed on the basis that the Western intelligence services are not only incompetent and lazy (which may well be right), but venal and vicious. However, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is -Very slow and the ending is unconvincing. Ending is really framed on the basis that the Western intelligence services are not only incompetent and lazy (which may well be right), but venal and vicious. However, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is - as - always a delight.… Expand
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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6
Q8MarrongGlaceOct 28, 2014
Good but not that good ,

It's a 90's kind of movies when people have no problem wasting time watching 2 hours movie but these days things are getting pretty fast so its better to represent your story in a decent limited time . When theGood but not that good ,

It's a 90's kind of movies when people have no problem wasting time watching 2 hours movie but these days things are getting pretty fast
so its better to represent your story in a decent limited time .

When the story is short it is unlikely to force the movie to be that long stuffed with unnecessary scenes 122 min is way too much I felt board more than once 90 min for that kind of story is more than enough adding some more thrill and
soundtracks effects suspense to attract the audience .

I thing the director could've make more out of it but after I checked
the kind of movies he did I'm no longer wondering why ... With all due
respect but you'll know what I mean after watching the movie .

Thanks… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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6
LamontRaymondJul 26, 2014
PSH is great in his final full performance, but the movie as a whole slows down after about the hour mark. If you're into the idea of this film, you should just go rent the very interesting one-season drama "Crossing Lines", which is aPSH is great in his final full performance, but the movie as a whole slows down after about the hour mark. If you're into the idea of this film, you should just go rent the very interesting one-season drama "Crossing Lines", which is a similar "team" approach to Euro-crimes and terrorism.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
BshopAug 23, 2014
Slow burning spy movie. Reminded me of the Good Shepard mostly.
Kinda felt bad for the guy caught in the middle (refugee/inherence gainer).
In summary, if you like spy movies, see it if you can in theaters. Otherwise, wait for it on rentalSlow burning spy movie. Reminded me of the Good Shepard mostly.
Kinda felt bad for the guy caught in the middle (refugee/inherence gainer).
In summary, if you like spy movies, see it if you can in theaters. Otherwise, wait for it on rental or online.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Compi24Mar 9, 2017
It's a visually pleasing film with a helluva lot to say about the current state of global intelligence and an admirable Philip Seymour Hoffman performance, but there's also this overall sense of mundanity about "A Most Wanted Man" that I justIt's a visually pleasing film with a helluva lot to say about the current state of global intelligence and an admirable Philip Seymour Hoffman performance, but there's also this overall sense of mundanity about "A Most Wanted Man" that I just can't help but call attention to. True, the business-as-usual tone sure helps establish the characters as being familiar with the world at hand, but without any urgency in almost any character within this film, there's simply nothing for me to latch on to as a viewer. Like some other recent le Carré adaptations, "A Most Wanted Man" plays things frustratingly close to the vest, with a slow-burning pot of a plot that never quite boils over into anything memorable. Sprinkle in a couple of spotty German accents here and there and you've all but lost me. Again, director Anton Corbijn may have achieved a noteworthy aesthetic here, but I'm more of a "colorful narrative and characters" kind of guy myself. Not necessarily a bad movie per se. Just a film that I desperately wanted to like that ended up not reciprocating in the end.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
sanyrubMar 2, 2015
Intriguing film with good performances and an interesting story. Despite the slow pace you will be involved in it enough to enjoy it from start to finish. The final scenes are probably the best in the film, and show you the reality some ofIntriguing film with good performances and an interesting story. Despite the slow pace you will be involved in it enough to enjoy it from start to finish. The final scenes are probably the best in the film, and show you the reality some of the people who work in secret services live.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
oDjentoJan 4, 2015
This film starts off with an interesting thriller vibe of "who really is this man?", but ends up losinf up half way through. Performances seem fine, with Hoffman beinf "pretty good" but in mo way stand outish. The story is basic but good, andThis film starts off with an interesting thriller vibe of "who really is this man?", but ends up losinf up half way through. Performances seem fine, with Hoffman beinf "pretty good" but in mo way stand outish. The story is basic but good, and is executed pretty well. It does lose steam a bit of the way through and drags a bit, but the final scenes are brilliant. They are extremely tense, just as you want secret service type undercover movies to be. It is also bittersweet and gives you a good assumption of what some goverment intelligence agency actually run like. Pretty decenr movie, worth a watch.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
shivam1990Jan 1, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A Most Wanted Man is based on a novel by John le Carré. I found the movie kind of slow, but yes it was different and some parts of it would keep you intrigued. If you liked Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, you would surely like this one. I should warn you that it is not for the people who are expecting some hardcore action or some adrenaline pumping thrill. What you can call it is, a simple spy thriller with a beautiful screenplay. The performances are good. Hoffman as Günther steals the show portraying a spy who is the brain behind everything. He is intelligent, he is smart and sometimes he surprises you. His character is portrayed as a complex personality. You would find that spies are not always 007-ish as portrayed in the glamorous spy movies. Dobrygin plays the role of illegal immigrant Issa very well.

The story is quite intriguing only for those who like such movies. The complex geopolitics after the 9/11 attacks has been portrayed very well. The line which will catch your attention is that everything is being done “To make the world a better place to live.” And unfortunately this is also the irony which is being portrayed in the movie. The end is kind of surprising and I bet that you would like it. But yes it would also leave you in a dilemma. So just sit back and enjoy the show that is if you are a fan of a slow spy thriller with some awesome screenplay and direction.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
CameraBounceGodFeb 21, 2015
I found this movie interesting in that there seemed to be surreal undercurrent almost as though someone was out to prove that seymore Hoffman is in fact a better actor then the woman he talks to throughout. Also the dialogue alone could beI found this movie interesting in that there seemed to be surreal undercurrent almost as though someone was out to prove that seymore Hoffman is in fact a better actor then the woman he talks to throughout. Also the dialogue alone could be about some gender war if your not paying attention which in my opinion is what surrealism is. i mean the camera seems to choose hoffman over the female and its almost as though i can feel that women are wondering why he gets so much camera time.. especially in the bar… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
YorkManFeb 1, 2016
A Most Wanted Man has some notoriety for being the final film released before Philip Seymour Hoffman's untimely death, and it is fitting that it is also recognised as one of his stand out performances.
The film revolves around a simpleA Most Wanted Man has some notoriety for being the final film released before Philip Seymour Hoffman's untimely death, and it is fitting that it is also recognised as one of his stand out performances.
The film revolves around a simple enough premise.
A contemporary set thriller, in Hamburg, Hoffman plays Günther Bachmann, the leader of an underfunded, underappreciated and beleaguered anti-terrorist squad. Things kick off when a young man is spotted on CCTV and recognised as the son of a dead Russian war criminal, who the authorities believe is a Jihadi sympathiser and therefore a direct threat.
Bachmann, however, is a more pragmatic man, believing that it's better to use blackmail etc (techniques he knows the German authorities can never legally condone) to get the people at the 'bottom' of the chain, to help catch and/or blackmail those further up. Bachmann recognises that his approach is disconcerting the post 9/11 'world', especially if there's the possibility he's wrong, and the Russian is there simply to blow something up, or escape further into the West.
What follows is a well conceived, two hour long, character driven thriller.

As a film though, it's not brilliant. Based on the John Le Carre novel of the same name, it's strange that a complex novel seems unable to be turned into a coherent screenplay. It's too slow paced, there's no real drama, all the peripheral characters aren't fleshed out and, worst of all, the basic 'message' of the book (that of extraordinary rendition by the American government) is pretty much removed from the narrative. Bachmann only offering the possibility (and not using the term itself) when explaining what could happen to the Russian man if he doesn't co-operate.

It's not brilliantly directed, the score is instantly forgettable, and the film ends without offering any rationale as to the actions of those responsible for the 'twist' at the very end.

Disappointing film, but filled with some excellent acting performances.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
DawdlingPoetNov 27, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is your average spy action thriller film, although the story is quite good, it didn't really grip me as such. It made me think of the recent TV series 'The Looming Tower', indeed it does have quite a looming sense to it but it wasn't as engrossing as I'd have perhaps liked. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a decent enough performance but there is some shaky camerawork and the dark lighting bothered me a bit. I suppose I should expect that, given the plot etc. but I wasn't that intrigued by it, mostly due to the plodding plot pace. This isn't an awful film but its not what I'd think of as especially great, so I'm going for a 3 star rating overall.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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