by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What is our fascination with true crimes? Is it the fact that these crimes happened which makes it that much more terrifying? Sometimes real life is even crazier than something we could come up with for fiction. There are so many horrible people out there who have committed a wide range of dangerous crimes. Obviously, the physical crimes are more harmful and serious, but there have been plenty of cons out there that have shattered peoples’ lives. IFC and AMC+ dip their toes into the true crime world from the U.K. with their latest thriller, Rogue Agent.
What crime was compelling enough to get co-writer-directors Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson’s attention? After watching Rogue Agent, you will not forget the name Robert Freegard. His crimes? First, he impersonated a MI5 agent. For what purpose? To kidnap young people through fraud. He would convince them that they were getting recruited into MI5. He would then force them and their families to give up large sums of money. This is quite the con to put on the big screen (or a streaming service).
But how do Lawn and Patterson get the most out of the fascinating story? From a filmmaking perspective, this is sleek and tense. The directors and their cinematographer Larry Smith utilize a classic approach to building tension. Well-framed scenes, stark visuals, and strong performances are cultivated by Lawn and Patterson to deliver a strong outing. The film doesn’t do anything fancy, but it does the basics well and excels with them.
What about the negatives? The story is so fascinating, but there is an issue. The narrative structure of the film is presented with basic tropes of crime thrillers. Each beat hits when you expect, and there are no real surprises. There are even a few moments that feel overdone, which slows down the pacing. The film feels like it is leaning too much on the fact that the story is so great that the writing doesn’t need to do any extra heavy lifting.
But who can deliver some extra heavy lifting? Rogue Agent boasts a strong and committed cast. Gemma Arterton is one of the keys to this film working. We get behind her performance of this strong and resourceful woman. She is finally able to see through Freegard’s lies and has the drive to take him down. Arterton is a commanding presence, yet sells heartbreak, frustration, and vulnerability so well. In one scene, she weaves them all together as she keeps a stiff upper lip; but a few tears say it all. But how do they sell Freegard’s con? James Norton. This man is charming and alluring. That is how this film really works. If the audience doesn’t believe Freegard, how would we believe that these young people do? A few of his other victims are portrayed so well by talented performers like Marisa Abela and Sarah Goldberg. They sell the fragile states that these women were in after his betrayal.
Is Rogue Agent the kind of refined and strong thriller worth your time? This film is certainly meat and potatoes, but they are cooked so darn well. This is a well-made and well-acted film that offers up an unbelievable story. AMC+ will have a winner coming to their streaming service for all to see.
Score: 7/10
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