Lawrence certainly looks the part, her Russian accent far more believable than the film's trailer would indicate, at least when she remembers to use it. A grotesquely violent climax has nothing on Charlize Theron's single take ass-kicking in 'Atomic Blonde.' 'Red Sparrow' holds its trump card until the very end, then wallows in it. As Dominika's far more experienced roommate Marta, Thekla Reuten ('In Bruges') engenders more sympathy than our heroine. Senator, caught up in a game way above her head.

Far more entertaining is watching Stephanie Boucher (Mary-Louise Parker), chief of staff for a U.S. This romance doesn't exactly generate sparks, however, the main connection between the two Dominika's recognition of Nash's compassionate decency. But when Dominika makes her expected play, the two find something in each other they did not expect. But Nash has also noted the new Sparrow and is allowed to travel back to Moscow in hopes of flipping her. after being outed during a Gorsky Park drop when he fires his weapon to allow his contact to escape. Meanwhile CIA operative Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) is stripped of his assignment in the U.S. At Sparrow School, where Dominika is appraised and trained by Matron (Charlotte Rampling), the young woman endures further abuse as she learns to use her sexuality to manipulate. When he asks her to lure that wealthy Russian into a hotel room, she successfully uses her wits to accomplish the mission, but Vanya's betrayed her, allowing her to be raped, the target murdered by hit man Matorin (Sebastian Hülk, 'The White Ribbon,' 'Hanna') mid thrust. Her retribution is brutal, further convincing Vanya of her potential. After she's recovered sufficiently to walk with a cane, Vanya, who has an incestuous interest in his niece, slips her photos of that partner in flagrante with the female dancer who's replaced her. During the dance, her male partner lands on her leg, resulting in a hideous break. Dominika is trotted out by Vanya before her performance where she catches the appreciative eye of a wealthy Russian. Knowing Dominika's mind set, which we largely do not here given Lawrence's blank slate, would better enable audiences to invest in its protagonist in any future installments. As Matthews' book was the first of a trilogy, perhaps the filmmakers are hoping for a franchise. The film has a surprisingly feminist stance, Dominika's agenda artfully hidden until final moments, yet despite a few tense scenes, this thriller is surprisingly inert. Vanya's backed Dominika into a corner where her only choices are death or becoming a honeypot for the State as a 'Red Sparrow.' Jennifer Lawrence jumps into her first overtly sexual role with the director of her last three 'Hunger Games' movies, Francis Lawrence, screenwriter Justin Haythe ('Revolutionary Road,' 'A Cure for Wellness') adapting 33 year CIA veteran Jason Matthews' book. Her Uncle Vanya (Matthias Schoenaerts, 'Bullhead,' 'A Bigger Splash'), a member of the SVR, offers to 'help,' supplying her with evidence about the truth behind that accident, then asking her to assist in a covert operation that renders her an inconvenient witness. After Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) endures a career ending accident dancing for the Bolshoi, she's faced with caring for her invalid mother Nina (Joely Richardson) with the prospect of losing their Bolshoi supplied apartment hanging over her head.

Red sparrow cast