'Atomic Blonde' Review

In 'Atomic Blonde (2017),' Charlize Theron stars as the "vodka on the rocks" loving Lorraine Broughton, MI6’s crown jewel, and most lethal assassin. By request of her superiors, Broughton is dispatched to the heart of Berlin during the 1989 Berlin Wall revolution. Her mission is to retrieve a priceless list of undercover operatives and identify a British double agent.

'Atomic Blonde' is a stunning movie to watch. Everything from the cinematography, to the fight choreography, and even the violet blood splatter is carefully planned out to provide a very engrossing visual experience. While much of the films violet yet sexy and sensual tone stems from the stunning visuals, much of it also stems from Theron's performance. We experience a broad spectrum of emotion from Theron's Agent Broughton. We see her at her most vulnerable, lying naked covered in bruises in an ice bath. But only minutes later, we experience her violently overtaking a group of heavily armed men. Even later, we see her sexually dominate a female counterpart. It was Theron's ability to deliver on this broad spectrum of character traits that ultimately held the film together for me.

The only real issue I had with the film was its story. About 20 minutes into the movie, I was lost. The plot is a convoluted and drawn out mess. While the film's plot does twist and turn a few too many times, I ultimately did enjoy how everything wrapped up in the end.

'Atomic Blonde (2017)' is a visually stunning and sensual film that features a strong performance by Theron. Unfortunately, though, this film is a case of style over substance as its convoluted plot keeps it from becoming anything more than a visual roller coaster for the eyes. I give 'Atomic Blonde' a 6 out of 10.

'Atomic Blonde' is available now on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD combo packs come loaded with lots of great bonus features. My favorite is an excellent little featurette "Welcome to Berlin," that explores the major role Berlin played in the film and how they were able to capture the essence of the revolution.