Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

The Amateur is an interesting movie. Even though it's 30 years old by now (Wow - was 1981 really that long ago!?!?) the movie has aged quite well. It's still a great story that is sure to hold your interest.

Basic Plot

Sarah is a sweet, young American, on assignment in Munich. In the wrong place at the wrong time, she is taken hostage, then killed in a terrorist plot. The terrorists escape unharmed. Back at home, boyfriend Charles Heller (played by John Savage) is beside himself with grief. He's a computer expert working for the CIA. (I know I said the movie aged well, but it was amusing to see what passed for the CIA's "super computers" 30 years ago!). He wants the CIA (his bosses, after all) to go after the terrorists with guns blazing, but they refuse. There are "proper protocols" to follow, and chasing these bad guys all over the world doesn't fit into their political agenda. So, Charles decides to take matters into his own hands. He gets some goods on the CIA and blackmails them into looking the other way, while he goes after the terrorists on his own.

What follows is a heart-wrenching journey for Charles. Thrown into very dangerous situations, he has to come to terms with some of life's more difficult lessons. Like, be careful who you trust. And, revenge might be sweet, but it won't bring Sarah back.

I really liked that this movie is low key. No futuristic weapons, no fancy gadgets. No major action scenes. This is not 007 going after the bad guys. This is plain old Charles Heller, a man who is average in every way. A man who's never touched a gun before. No fancy cars, and no tricks up his sleeves. He's just a normal man, driven by his anger and grief. While some people might find this movie slow or boring, I found it fascinating and much more realistic than one of those big budget major action flicks. This movie was much more about a character and a story than about action.

The other thing I really liked was the suspense factor. Don't get too settled in, thinking you know everything that's going to happen; you don't. Without giving anything away, let me just say that things are not always what they seem.

Charles is really the only main character. Sure, Lynne Griffin is on screen for a few minutes as Sarah, but we never really get to know her. There are three terrorists, but there is absolutely no character development there at all. Along the way, Charles bumps into a few people who help him out, and others who hinder his progress, but none of these characters plays a major role. Basically, John Savage has to carry the entire movie. And while he can be a little bit "wooden" at times, I really have to give him credit.  Carrying a movie like this nearly entirely on his own can not have been easy, and John Savage pulls it off.

Overall

I enjoyed this movie very much. It's a great story, with a serious theme that doesn't rely on unrealistic action or gadgets. It's long (nearly two hours) but held my interest the entire time. It's rated R for violence. While it's definitely not for people who crave gorgeous leading actors, wall to wall action, or fancy gadgets, I recommend it for those who can take a long, low key film that focuses on the story and the character. 

Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age