This movie was very intelligently done but it certainly wasn't giving off an air of brilliance throughout. In fact, at one point I thought they were going for softcore porn or maybe just giving Jennifer Lawrence an opportunity to be an exhibitionist. There is no shortage of sex and nudity--it was actual a main principal of the movie.

The movie is set in Russia and Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) finds herself being used as a state tool to gather information. She doesn't know who to trust but she relies on her instincts and her wit to stay alive.

Jennifer Lawrence was only Katniss Everdeen to me. I had never seen her do another role. After Red Sparrow, she is Katniss no more. The performance was very good and very gutsy. It's one thing to play the role as a vulnerable Russian beauty looking to help her country but another to do so when it involves being in several sex scenes of both the passionate and violent nature.

Red Sparrow relies very little on action. It derives it's suspense and intensity from the myriad of dire situations. It is very suspenseful but the suspense is only as strong as the viewers connection with Dominika. In that regard Lawerence was excellent as was the writing and directing.

It's hard not to think of the Black Widow when watching Red Sparrow. Both are beautiful Russian women who are instruments of the Russian state but used in different ways. The Black Widow, while attractive, is more suited to use force to get what she wants. The Red Sparrow, also attractive, has to use every bit of her womanliness to get what she wants. Both are highly effective, it's just a matter of preference. I prefer them both.