Intricately plotted spy thrillers often intrigue me, and this one feels like a vintage John le Carré plot — except that le Carré normally avoids the kind of sexual fireworks that Red Sparrow exploits.  This movie is based on a Jason Matthews book, and offers a view of the Cold War that is dark and disturbing on many levels.

Francis Lawrence’s film presents the story of former Russian ballerina Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence, no relation) as she is pushed into espionage so that she can keep her mother in good care.  Dominika becomes a “sparrow,” an agent taught to use sex and psychological tactics in the service of the State.  She becomes involved with American agent Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) and plays the Game for all it is worth, because she won’t survive unless she can play it better than everybody else.

Movies like this require attention to be paid to small detail and overarching plot lines. While some elements run into melodrama, much of the maneuvering is quite effective, and Jennifer Lawrence is a most becoming victim-turned-sparrow.  Some of the violence is brutal, and the torture scenes are tough to watch, but such nastiness comes with the territory.  And not only is this story centered on a woman, but two or three other women are integral to the traditionally male-centric world of Cold War politics.  That is a most welcome change from the old days.

Red Sparrow is by no means a great movie, but it is stylish intrigue that raises moral questions with aplomb.  A couple of powerful twists also help save it from the routine, and I found it eminently watchable.  The James Bonds and their ilk make international espionage look like fun, glamorous work; I suspect the real thing is much more like this story, disturbing and dangerous.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  9 March 2018.