Despite the fact that the movies and television series are flooded with espionage films where Russia is the target for the ruthless instigator of crimes, RED SPARROW comes across as a fresh reversal of those roles; Russia is the 'main character' and the US is the perpetrator of the espionage events. The screenplay is the work of Justin Haythe and Jason Matthews who also wrote the book on which the film is based. Francis Lawrence of the Hunger Games Trilogy directs this very long and somewhat disjointed film. The cast is blessed with exceptional actors, even in the every small roles they are given.

Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is many things. A devoted daughter determined to protect her mother (Joely Richardson) at all costs. A prima ballerina whose ferocity has pushed her body and mind to the absolute limit. A master of seductive and manipulative combat. When she suffers a career-ending injury, Dominika and her mother are facing a bleak and uncertain future. That is why she finds herself manipulated into becoming the newest recruit for Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people like her to use their bodies and minds as weapons. After enduring the perverse and sadistic training process under the Matron (Charlotte Rampling), she emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow the program has ever produced. Dominika must now reconcile the person she was with the power she now commands, with her own life and everyone she cares about at risk, including an American CIA agent Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) who tries to convince her he is the only person she can trust. Her uncle (Matthias Schoenaerts) urges her to accept the challenges of being the Red Sparrow and the other players include Ciarán Hinds as the evil Zakharov, Mary-Louise Parker as the vague Stephanie Boucher, Jeremy Irons as General Korchnoi, and other actors who walk that suspicious line as to whether they are Pro Russia or pro US. The ending is dramatic and also tender.

Solid actors, all, who attempt to make sense of the meandering at times boring script. For 140 minutes at least half the footage needs editing. The ballet scenes and classical music used in the film are richly rewarding. The film is not perfect but provides but provides an entertaining evening.