Blessed with wonderful cinematography and locations that feel authentic, "Red Sparrow" is the story of a Russian ballerina who becomes an operative of the SVR, the Russian counterpart to the CIA. Jennifer Lawrence plays the title role of Dominika, who dances for the Bolshoi until an unfortunate accident. She is recruited for a special program that uses extreme methods to produce super-agents.

A central theme is Dominika's enslavement by the entire government system. Perhaps that is why she is so unemotional and calculating; she must always seem to toe the line while trying to manipulate the politics in every situation. Lawrence does a good job portraying the coldness of her character---and she gets extra credit for the accent and the ballet moves---but the emotionally detached nature of her character requires that the film, if it is to move or interest a viewer, must have a story arc that is even more captivating.

While the story is interesting, it never rises above the emotional entanglement of a chess match. There is a love story, but the viewer never knows if he is witnessing true feelings or just the manipulations of a skillful agent.

For a somewhat similar story that delivers more emotional intensity, I recommend "La Femme Nikita".