The ensemble supporting cast including Willem Dafoe, Nina Hoss, Daniel Brühl, Homayoun Ershadi and Robin Wright bring weight and credence to the story. Rachel McAdam’s performance as the human rights lawyer is flawed unfortunately, and not in the right ways. She gives a very clinical performance when her role asks for a roller-coaster of an emotional crux, spelling doom for anyone trying to take her seriously.

If you enjoy a slick, grind-house style of a spy movie, with explosions and gunfights, this may not be the movie for you. However, if you have any interest in true espionage and are concerned with the socio-political problems of the modern day, then this movie will interest, enthrall and sadden you immensely. It was released at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and competed in the main competition section of the 36th Moscow International Film Festival. Philip Seymour Hoffman appeared at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on the Red Carpet for both his lead role in ‘An Unwanted Man’ and ‘God’s Pocket’, John Slattery’s directorial film debut.

Darcy Smith

Also see: The Master Review, Tribute to Phillip Seymour Hoffman