The actors did a fine job of carrying their roles. The director made it all look, feel and fit as well as possible.
However, the whole plot and details simply don't deliver for the level of film this one aspires to be.
The "secret" really isn't worth killing over, as is impliedly the case. And, if the CIA or a lifelong spy with such professional and deadly connections are involved, why do they do such completely implausible things? Like leave the dead writer's damning evidence in a room after his death for the next writer to find? Why hire someone that isn't an inside man, if it so important to keep secrets? Why can't such a powerful group have more than the two agents who get tricked to stay on the ferry (and hence take care of the new writer who is a problem? Why not print off a new copy of the manuscript so that a simple code isn't left in the old formatting to be found? After the ex-PM is killed, why doesn't the spy organization use the three months to clean up the loose ends, or at least steal back the critical original copy of the manuscript? A plot motive that is underwhelming and implausible that is carried along by plot developments that are illogical and out of character with the degree of evilness and sophistication that the movie villain is supposed to possess.
Adds up to an adult crime thriller/drama that is neither smart nor clever and that 12 year olds would not be inclined to boast about deducing early in the film.
But, how any reasonably intelligent adult could find such plot holes and contrivances satisfying or entertaining to any appreciable degree is the biggest question this film leaves unanswered.
However, the whole plot and details simply don't deliver for the level of film this one aspires to be.
The "secret" really isn't worth killing over, as is impliedly the case. And, if the CIA or a lifelong spy with such professional and deadly connections are involved, why do they do such completely implausible things? Like leave the dead writer's damning evidence in a room after his death for the next writer to find? Why hire someone that isn't an inside man, if it so important to keep secrets? Why can't such a powerful group have more than the two agents who get tricked to stay on the ferry (and hence take care of the new writer who is a problem? Why not print off a new copy of the manuscript so that a simple code isn't left in the old formatting to be found? After the ex-PM is killed, why doesn't the spy organization use the three months to clean up the loose ends, or at least steal back the critical original copy of the manuscript? A plot motive that is underwhelming and implausible that is carried along by plot developments that are illogical and out of character with the degree of evilness and sophistication that the movie villain is supposed to possess.
Adds up to an adult crime thriller/drama that is neither smart nor clever and that 12 year olds would not be inclined to boast about deducing early in the film.
But, how any reasonably intelligent adult could find such plot holes and contrivances satisfying or entertaining to any appreciable degree is the biggest question this film leaves unanswered.