All the Old Knives
Amazon | Release Date: April 8, 2022
5.5
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
12
Mixed:
21
Negative:
10
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
2
EludiumQ36May 5, 2022
"All the Old Knives" (90-mins, Amazon) definitely lulls you in with A-list stars but its low budget and newbie director betray its potential. Instead, you get one of the most boring terrorist hijacking films ever, but executive producer/star"All the Old Knives" (90-mins, Amazon) definitely lulls you in with A-list stars but its low budget and newbie director betray its potential. Instead, you get one of the most boring terrorist hijacking films ever, but executive producer/star Chris Pine gets to love on Ms Newton quite a bit so this seems to be more a treat for him than entertainment for us.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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6
TVJerryApr 10, 2022
This film opens with a gripping airplane hijacking, but that's only the setup. Jump forward 8 years and a CIA agent (Chris Pine) is tasked with finding the leak in their agency that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. He travelsThis film opens with a gripping airplane hijacking, but that's only the setup. Jump forward 8 years and a CIA agent (Chris Pine) is tasked with finding the leak in their agency that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. He travels to California to dine with his ex-lover (Thandiwe Newton), who has resigned from the CIA. This restaurant (with the ironic name) is the scene of most of the movie's dialogue. The twosome engage in low-key conversation, as they discuss the potential guilt of everyone involved, along with some brief flashbacks. The duo's chemistry works, but this is much more about conversation than action. Anyone expecting a spy thriller will be disappointed to discover that this is a rather bland crime drama that takes place primarily at a table for two.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
dr0nzerApr 17, 2022
Too slow of a ramp up, utterly boring, spent it all watching and staring at Chris Pine, wondering about how he's aged soooo rapidly over the years... This film needs a rework. Save your time and look to the netflix trash bin, it has betterToo slow of a ramp up, utterly boring, spent it all watching and staring at Chris Pine, wondering about how he's aged soooo rapidly over the years... This film needs a rework. Save your time and look to the netflix trash bin, it has better selections.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
PurpleCrayon4UApr 11, 2022
You Know What's Coming, But You Hang Around Anyway .. .. All the Old Knives is a film you watch when you're scrolling through the channels and nothing is on. The R-rating is strictly for the sex scenes, which were unnecessary, because thisYou Know What's Coming, But You Hang Around Anyway .. .. All the Old Knives is a film you watch when you're scrolling through the channels and nothing is on. The R-rating is strictly for the sex scenes, which were unnecessary, because this film calls upon the viewer's imagination with many plot elements implied so spelling out those scenes in detail is contradictory to the approach of telling the story. The screenplay and novel author Olen Steinhauer is also responsible for the fantastic series Berlin Station and if the author had more time and money to produce a longer film(maybe 3 more hours) All the Old Knives might have been a better production. All the Old Knives is average, middle of the road, meh, but.....if you truly want a better experience, pay strict close attention to all the characters and the small elements that are introduced throughout the film - which are many.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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4
Mauro_LanariApr 9, 2022
(Mauro Lanari)
It's hard for a spy story to be riveting when half the film is devoted to a chat between two former lovers who dine in a restaurant. From at least "Westworld" onwards, Thandiwe Newton shows her **** to which I don't attribute a(Mauro Lanari)
It's hard for a spy story to be riveting when half the film is devoted to a chat between two former lovers who dine in a restaurant. From at least "Westworld" onwards, Thandiwe Newton shows her **** to which I don't attribute a particular added value.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
royalguy07Jun 29, 2022
A cast that deserved much better plotting and intrigue, dreadfully dull and lifeless.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
KahschoMay 5, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie has an all star cast who turn in great performances. But the movie relies on a contrived, completely implausible plot to set up its lackluster ending. To set up that ending, the main characters have to swivel back and forth from (1) being trained CIA operatives and (2) completely incompetent amateurs who ignore any kind of common sense security measures.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
JLuis_001Apr 8, 2022
Within the praise I can give this film, which Amazon Prime Video has given no publicity at all, is that its approach to spy movies is elegant and absorbing. Fully driven by dialogue and tension.

All the Old Knives uses some old tricks, butWithin the praise I can give this film, which Amazon Prime Video has given no publicity at all, is that its approach to spy movies is elegant and absorbing. Fully driven by dialogue and tension.

All the Old Knives uses some old tricks, but its crafted in a style that might be thought to have more to do with real-world espionage than super spies and their relentless action sequences.

Although I should point out that the film's background is centered on a romantic story.
The narrative of betrayal and espionage is not a subplot, but all revolves around the relationship of the two lead characters played by Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton.

It may not compare to the style of John le Carré's writing, but we're also a long way from Bond, and it's nice to see thrillers like this from time to time.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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5
bertobellamyApr 13, 2022
'All the Old Knives' is a generic spy film that trusts all the weight of the narrative on the romance between two former associates that worked for the CIA during a hostage crisis gone wrong. Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton chemistry is the'All the Old Knives' is a generic spy film that trusts all the weight of the narrative on the romance between two former associates that worked for the CIA during a hostage crisis gone wrong. Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton chemistry is the best part of it, but a convoluted plot that tries so hard to be like a Le Carré one, some romantic clichés, and an evident lack of subtext make this movie feel like a very uninspired one. Oh, and sex scenes are totally unnecessary; very awkward, and 90's-esque.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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3
MetacriticOnurApr 10, 2022
bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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6
Voodoo123Sep 4, 2022
Slow paced spy erotic/drama/thriller centred around an interview between former lovers and government agency employees. Their conversation is an interesting cat and mouse back and forth with the story told primarily through flashbacks. TheSlow paced spy erotic/drama/thriller centred around an interview between former lovers and government agency employees. Their conversation is an interesting cat and mouse back and forth with the story told primarily through flashbacks. The cast is great and it's a solid production. It has a slower pace the most films but in such an over saturated genre it failed to push the needle above average. On paper this has everything I look for in a good movie and yet it is just missing that special x factor to really add flesh to the otherwise very attractive bones.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
shoulderoforionApr 10, 2022
Passable spy thriller, not great, not terrible, but just interesting enough
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
CosminAgafiteiNov 1, 2022
All the Old Knives - a movie who wants to be a action thriller espionage with a pinch of love drama. I don't think this two things are working together. The casting is interesting and dynamic, but not fully used. There is a twist in theAll the Old Knives - a movie who wants to be a action thriller espionage with a pinch of love drama. I don't think this two things are working together. The casting is interesting and dynamic, but not fully used. There is a twist in the final, trying to make the movie more interesting, but i didn't care that much of that. Not a great movie, not revolutionary for the genre, but it's worth a watch in a Sunday evening.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
DawdlingPoetAug 14, 2022
This is a decent enough mystery thriller film with a good cast. It has a bit of a James Bond feel to it, although maybe not quite so many good effects as those films have. Its interesting to see what we learn about the characters. Its notThis is a decent enough mystery thriller film with a good cast. It has a bit of a James Bond feel to it, although maybe not quite so many good effects as those films have. Its interesting to see what we learn about the characters. Its not entirely memorable but its certainly a decent enough film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Stream2BigScreeApr 16, 2022
Welcome back, Streamers. Somewhere in the world there are two CIA operatives and former lovers that will meet up at a fancy restaurant to go over an old case that has reared its ugly head. They'll discuss and attempt to resolve whether andWelcome back, Streamers. Somewhere in the world there are two CIA operatives and former lovers that will meet up at a fancy restaurant to go over an old case that has reared its ugly head. They'll discuss and attempt to resolve whether and how the organization was compromised all those years ago. By that, I just meant that's what occurs in All The Old Knives that debuted on Prime Video last weekend. Let's see what we thought of this flick, shall we?

The movie looks and feels really well done... BUT - and that's when you know there's a problem. The movie just feels off. As the plot unfolds, BORINGLY I might add, it feels more straightforward and obvious than it wants to be. That is a problem for a thriller. The idea of a movie that really is just two people talking over dinner and drinks doesn't scream thriller. The way the story is told as just a recounting of events and conversations doesn't help either. I'll say the movie is an extremely slow, like glacially slow, burn but it does slightly turn up at the end. I think that's what they were going for and what I'll warn you about with this movie. It's slow but you have to give it time to unfold. If this were a movie in theaters, I'd be more skeptical but because this is a streaming flick you can always come back to it. Just have some patience.

Thandiwe Newton, Chris Pine, Orli Shuka and Abdul Alshareef all do a really bang up job in their individual roles. I'd say better in the flashback scenes than in the present, but the core of the movie really is about the past rather than the present. As an aside: I wonder if this movie was told chronologically rather than in flashbacks if it could have been more intense. In my opinion, the set-up of a conversation in a restaurant was just boring until they really got going with the backstory. I understand where they were going with it by the end but it felt a bit pandemic-y like they didn't want to have too many actors in one location anymore so they needed to re-shoot it movie to make it safe. "Okay, let's have Thandiwe and Chris talk about the movie we were really trying to make." Anyway, Chris and Thandiwe have strong on-screen chemistry and tension is developed in that relationship, which makes their scenes palpable at times (might just be Thandiwe when I think about it). Orli, as a dark horse, quickly became my guy by the end of the movie.

Overall, All the Old Knives gives me less intense Argo vibes. It's a pretty solid story, but the execution of the storytelling knocks off some of the thrill. Coming from Prime Video, this is a solid streaming option but not necessarily something you have to see right away. Grab a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of wine and eat dinner with Thandiwe and Chris.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
DunkaccinoSep 17, 2022
Writer Olen Steinhauer did a great job developing a layered event, in which the characters have reasonable depth and motivations. The movie isn't exactly ingenious, but we have three great performances: Pine, Newton and Jonathan Pryce in aWriter Olen Steinhauer did a great job developing a layered event, in which the characters have reasonable depth and motivations. The movie isn't exactly ingenious, but we have three great performances: Pine, Newton and Jonathan Pryce in a supporting role.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
alanpotter17Jan 20, 2023
Esse filme sofre de identidade, o diretor precisa de terapia urgentemente. Ao narrar a história de uma acontecimento ocorrido no voo 127 em 2012, cria-se a necessidade de, 10 anos depois, resolver-se o mistério e de quem teria facilitado oEsse filme sofre de identidade, o diretor precisa de terapia urgentemente. Ao narrar a história de uma acontecimento ocorrido no voo 127 em 2012, cria-se a necessidade de, 10 anos depois, resolver-se o mistério e de quem teria facilitado o ataque terrorista que custou a vida de toda a tripulação, inclusive aí os reféns inocentes.
Ocorre que há uma trilha que nos leva ao suspense, mas também uma pegada de triller policial encabeçado pelo conjunto de investigadores, em especial por Henry Pelham (Chris Pine), a quem coube a missão de entrevistar antigos colegas da CIA, afinal, a grande suspeita é que havia um traidor infiltrado facilitando as informações ao ataque.
A trilha quase monotômica não apenas começa a incomodar, como também o filme deixa de lado a pegada policial para ganhar contornos dramáticos e terminar por ser um romance!! Uma verdadeira salada, embora bem dirigida e com uma entrega sempre acima da média dos atores. Mas não há aqui uma tensão pelos acontecimentos ou maiores desdobramentos geopolíticos. Começa prometendo e muito e termina água com açúcar.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Badgerryan27Sep 17, 2022
Good cast with a decent story that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat guessing what's next and the payoff isn't that bad. Overall had a good time with this.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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