Jennifer Lawrence is a Bolshoi ballet dancer who has a bad accident and must take an unpleasant role with the Russian Secret Service to keep paying for her sick mother's care. After some very odd training in the art of seducing the enemy she is sent on a mission involving CIA agent Edgerton. Thereafter it gets quite complicated.

Good to see another 'cold war' thriller (there just aren't enough) and with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Lawrence is convincing as the Russian 'Sparrow' in very much a star vehicle for her - she's rarely off the screen, which in some ways diverts away too much from an interesting supporting cast (Rampling, Hinds etc). It feels a bit too long, although initially rushes through the opening / training scenes so it can get on with the core plot.

So quite a good thriller, nicely complicated, often unpleasant and with a satisfying conclusion.

One real gripe, every time Lawrence gets beaten up, she applies this magic make up which removes all bruises and cuts in a second so she can continue to look stunning in the next scene - silly.