The Operative

This film was certainly not as bad as some of the other reviews indicated. While not taking everything so seriously, the movie absolutely kept my interest, and there were some truly tense moments throughout the film. Definitely not boring at all, and the acting was excellent.

Good film, YES you have to pay attention. The first half of the film is excellent , it gets choppy and the narrative nearly goes off the rails.

There s a key moment in the film when the handler meets the main character's father, "The liberal Englishman academic", who is horrified of the thought of Israel. This is a position I have never seen said out loud in film or print by WESTERN media. Its tectonic. I was really surprised because Israel is an artifice, (its just no one admits it).

The acting is amazing as usual Martin Freeman steals the movie (he has nearly taken over from Phillip Seymour Hoffman) , and. Diane Kruger is EXCELLENT !

I think this movie shows relatively realistic image of Iran , Iranian people and clash between Iran and Israel. As an Iranian I enjoyed the movie. unlike some of similar movies about Iran , all Iranian characters are good hearted people with no Iranian interrogators or such. also I like that -despite having Israeli production- the involvement of Mossad on Iranian scientist assassination and sabotaging Iran's nuclear program is depicted without hesitation. Acting was good and Iran's streets and atmosphere shown believable and almost perfect ... there is no Opel Astra police cars or old Volvo Station wagons in Iran though. I gave is 8 of 10.

In essence, a decent spy film. Interesting, in my case, for Diane Kruger and Martin Freeman. The end can be the most satisfactory. A film about Iran, with not so bad romance story and not the worst portrait of independent woman. Good acting, decent crafted story .

Nowadays many movies are being watched while the viewer is occupied by something else. No not that (though I am not judging if you do that while watching a movie), rather something like surfing or generally doing something on your phone/tablet. This movie can not be enjoyed that way nor can you win any satisfying experience either.

Diane Kruger is amazing in this movie and she once again proves that she can carry a movie. I really dig her performance here. Strong, yet fragile. Tough and vulnerable at the same time. Tension filled from start to finish, you really do care for her and her wishes. I love the shades of grey ... not everything is good, not everything is bad. Also when people are involved, it is tough to detach oneself from something or someone. Not to mention that you could argue that some things are ... well wouldn't happen if one wouldn't tease someone and more or less make them do things ... they otherwise wouldn't do