Movies that build up to something incredible can be forgiven for being slow throughout the majority of its duration. That being said, if your film is only mildly engaging and leads to a conclusion that feels overly complex for the sake of being overly complex, then I feel as though it has failed. Some viewers may feel differently and enjoy a calm film with a very slow pace and a cool twist to pay everything off in the final act, so I can see where some people may enjoy Red Sparrow, but I've seen this style of storytelling done far better on multiple occasions. For its unapologetic look at rape, manipulation, and seduction, here are a few of the many reasons why I think this one can easily be skipped if you're deciding between a few movies to see at the cinema.

Following Dominika Egorova as she is sent by her uncle to attend a school to become a sparrow, Red Sparrow is about using your body as a weapon in order to seduce and manipulate criminals. The premise of this film is easily one of the more relevant when comparing it to today's climate, but comparing a movie to reality isn't the only thing that should make it worth watching. Yes, there are some truly graphic moments sprinkled throughout this movie and I can confidently say that they will turn off many audience members. With that said, not everything about this film affected me in a negative way.

Jennifer Lawrence has always had a divided audience when it comes to her performances, and while I have enjoyed her in pretty much everything, for the most part, I'd almost go as far as calling this a terrific performance. This was her first time using a different accent in such a drastic way and for the most part, I wasn't distracted. Her performance, along with the unsettling chemistry that worked very well between her and Joel Edgerton, made this a bearable movie to sit through.

As mentioned earlier, a movie can fall apart if your story is solely relying on impressing your audience in the final act, and that's exactly where Red Sparrow fails the hardest at accomplishing. The premise itself is engaging enough to keep you intrigued as to where it will all end up, but the third act of this movie tries too hard to impress its audience, using multiple twists that feel forced in order to bring closure to certain loose ends. I liked some of these loose ends being brought to a satisfying conclusion, but my biggest complaint is that this film didn't know where it wanted to go.

Where this film shines is through its direction and cinematography. Although subtle, I feel as though cinematographer Jo Willems has crafted a unique looking thriller that takes you from point A to point B with visual ease. Director Francis Lawrence has worked with Jennifer Lawrence many times on the sets of multiple films in 'The Hunger Games' franchise, which is why I believe him to be a great director. His work has always impressed me in terms of getting great performances out of actors/actresses and Red Sparrow is just another example of that exact talent.

In the end, Red Sparrow isn't really a film that I can recommend to anyone, especially in theatres. Sure, if you have nothing else to watch and you're a patient viewer, then you may get a kick out of certain sequences through the course of this movie. For the most part, I feel that the majority of filmgoers will either be bored or grow uninterested by the time the credits roll. It tries very hard to win you over in the third act, but I didn't fall for it. Red Sparrow has divided audiences around the world, and I seem to be right in the middle of all the criticism. I can see where people may enjoy it, but I can just as easily see why people are hating on it. If you're planning on checking this one out, I think renting may be the best option.