Red Sparrow (3 out of 5 stars).

Red Sparrow is a promising spy thriller film. With plenty of twist and turns. A promising performance from Jennifer Lawrence. A sharp direction from Francis Lawrence. But sadly it falls from a slow moving script and a concept that is serious and may be forgotten after watching the film once. Nor is it one of those movies, were you would say you watch it again.

Dominika (Jennifer Lawrence) is a Russian Ballerina and after an injury leads her career to a shaky turn for her life's direction. And struggling to keep her mother in medical care. Her uncle (Matthias Schoenaerts) recruits her to a Russian Intelligence school, were she will learn to seduce, extract info, and execute any orders from anyone. After the Russian's learn there must be a mole in their government that is leaking important intel.

The pros about the film. Jennifer Lawrence delivered a great performance. Her character was introduced into a world were she has to use her sexuality as a weapon. She was given no choice. Joel Edgerton was also good playing a CIA operative, were Dominika is trying to get information out of him. And he is trying to do the same. But when they both fall for each other, when Dominika realizes he can be her way out of this espionage world. If she helps him. Or does he have his own agenda? It is one of those movies that is entertaining to see these characters work together. But at the same time, leaves you feeling like you can not trust anyone.

The direction is sharp. From a director that did the last few Hunger Games movies and Constantine. He created a perfect tone for an espionage thriller, were people are double crossing each other. And it does have a twist that will throw you off completely in the climax scene.

The cons of the film. It is slow moving. It is not the typical spy thriller films like James Bond movies or Jason Bourne. It is about a Russian Intelligence spy trying to seduce a CIA operative to giving out information. But he is aware of and is trying to turn the tables around on her. So for any action enthusiasts may be disappointed. There is no car chases, action or fight scenes. Just a few execution kills and a very disturbing torture scene involving a skin graft device that can skin a person.

I will have to say the film does lose its pace a lot when it is slow. And definitely one of those movies were you will only watch once and forget about it after it ends.

Overall, Red Sparrow is a fair spy thriller. Direction is good to look at. Jennifer Lawrence was great. The concept and story kept you guessing. But it is slow and boring and forgettable.