Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek’s latest film, The Amateur, opens in Irish cinemas this Friday. He plays Charlie Heller, a CIA tech genius who requests training as an agent after experiencing a devastating tragedy. When he doesn’t receive the support he needs, Heller embarks on a mission of vengeance that takes him across the globe in pursuit of revenge.
We attended the global press conference, where Malek, his co-stars Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, and Ireland’s own Caitríona Balfe shared what it was like to make the movie.
This is Malek’s first time producing and starring in a film. He said he was always interested in taking on a producer’s role because it allows him to be more involved in the creative process behind the scenes.
“I love to see things from beginning to end, all the way through every element. I hope it’s not a perfectionist aspect, but I find myself on Bohemian [Rhapsody] and Bond, remembering moments on certain cameras, certain lenses, on other actors that I would talk to the directors about or in post, wanting to make sure we were getting the best of the best. I hear about a lot of actors who come into the editing suite, and I thought, how could I do that without having to do it in a sneaky way.”
Malek says he enjoyed being involved in scriptwriting and finding ways to elevate the film.
“It was nice to see this develop day in and day out… and I am trying to make this feel as authentic and unique as possible from beginning to end. There’s nothing like getting into a sound mix at the end of a film and seeing what you are and how you can elevate it for the big screen.”
Rachel Brosnahan plays Heller’s wife, Sarah. She says that Rami is underselling his role and was much more than the average producer.
“Rami is underselling himself as a producer. His hands were in every single part of this. It was really inspiring to watch and learn more about the collaboration between Rami and James [Hawes], but Rami tracked down a number of actors in the project. His passion is so infectious for this world, for this unique take on a spy thriller. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before; it feels grounded in its humanity, which makes Heller a character that you want to root for.”
Balfe plays Inquiline, a hacker who is forced to live in the shadows. She says one of her favourite parts of the film is the connection between Malek and Brosnahan’s characters. Balfe says she was drawn to the film because she had never played anyone quite like her character before.
“Inquiline was someone I’d never played before, which was really interesting. She was this beautiful dichotomy of somebody who had retreated from the world and lived in the shadows but was also doing this incredibly heroic thing, which was exposing corruption and speaking truth to power. Aside from the fact that getting to work with all of these people and in these beautiful locations, it was just really exciting to be able to play such a great character in this genre.”
Laurence Fishburne plays a retired colonel who is drafted to train Heller, but their relationship is uneasy from the start. He expressed his delight at the opportunity to work with Malek.
“Rami and I met seven or eight years ago at a party, and we just instantly liked each other. We’ve loved each other’s work and admired each other as actors for years, and it was pretty clear that we would want to work together. So, when The Amateur came around when I read the script, I thought, yes, more, please. We had such fun, and I’m just so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful movie.”
Revenge and justice are at the heart of the story, and Balfe says that poses some interesting questions.
“One of the beautiful things about the film is that it does raise this question about revenge and justice, and what is the difference? Is revenge the thing that’s going to bring you solace? When you’re in pain, you want somebody to answer for the terrible thing they’ve done. You can go blindly into seeking revenge. It’s such a great question that they ask in this film: is that the right way, or is justice the thing that’s ultimately going to give you some solace? Heller’s journey through that discovery is really interesting.”
Heller uses his computer skills to seek justice, distinguishing him from the typical characters we often encounter in similar films. Brosnahan notes that this unique trait is one of the reasons the film stands out.
“It is really aspirational to watch somebody who is so unexpected in a role like this, not just rise to the challenge or be pushed to the brink, but also to do it in a way that utilizes their unique skill set. Heller stays true to who he is throughout the entirety of the course of this film, even when that’s called into question. I think for audiences, that’s pretty aspirational to watch.”
Words – Cara O’Doherty
THE AMATEUR arrives in Irish cinemas on April 11th