This is a film for lovers of cinematography trickery and directorial hubris. The "one-shot" affectation is attention grabbing, but ultimately it's to the detriment of the film itself.

The actual substance of the film and especially the script tends way more towards the melodramatic than the dramatic, and this is a crucial mistake in how weighty the film ends up feeling.

These some decent acting, but unfortunately it's not from the leads. Specifically Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch shine in their small but quite memorable roles.

Overall, for all its hype and acclaim so far, it's an empty exercise in cinematic trickery.