Movie review: Jennifer Lawrences stars as "Red Sparrow" (2018)

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“Red Sparrow” is a term for Russian spy prostitute in service of the state. Jennifer Lawrence stars in this purported spy thriller on the verge of softcore porn. The movie tanked at the box office and for good reason. At 140 minutes, “Red Sparrow” is overlong and ponderous at times. Then there is the Russian aspect. All action takes place in Russia and Budapest. Almost all are Russian accents put on by American, British, Irish and Swedish actors. The main male character is American played by an Australian actor. Dominika (Lawrence) is a prima ballerina with the Bolshoi whose career is destroyed in an on stage accident that was deliberate. Her KGB-like uncle Vanya gets the goods on who did it and Dominika exacts her revenge. An impressed Vanya who harbors veiled incestuous thoughts toward his niece decides she is a suitable candidate for the spy prostitute school because of her brains and beauty. In fact she has no choice. The Bolshoi pays for her apartment and sickly mother’s healthcare that will end leaving them destitute. The spy prostitute school scenes are supposed to be serious yet seem exploitive. We get the idea so the overkill is unnecessary. This is meant to demonstrate Dominika’s intelligence, strength, principles and ability to manipulate. After that, she is dispatched on assignment to Budapest where she deals with a horny superior, Naturally she voluntarily begins romantically involved with the American agent who knows what she is. There is spy stuff and double agents. The ending is admittedly clever but not enough to overcome the tedious journey to get there. The distinguished supporting cast is led by Jeremy Irons, Charlotte Rampling and Mary Louise Parker and you can read their minds: “I am willing to embarrass myself speaking bad dialogue with a ridiculous accent in a lousy movie for a fat paycheck.” Based on a novel by Jason Matthews, the script is by Justin Haythe whose previous claim to fame was the ill fated Johnny Depp disaster “The Lone Ranger.” Director Francis Lawrence (no relation) also worked with Lawrence in the last three “Hunger Games” movies. “Red Sparrow” may appeal to those liking sexy Russian espionage stories and Jennifer Lawrence fans can thrill to sex scenes and her nudity. The movie does nothing to enhance anyone’s career.