All the Old Knives

Amazon | Release Date: April 8, 2022

5.5	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 43 Ratings

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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