A Most Wanted Man

For audiences seeking an engrossing thriller but who are sick to death of being bombarded by explosions and noise in the midst of this summer movie season, "A Most Wanted Man," the latest film from Anton Corbijn ("The American," "Control"), is the blockbuster antithesis: An intricately plotted tale of paranoia that derives its suspense from the moral complexities of its refreshingly non-biased perspective on the impact of spy tactics used during the international war on terror.

Based off of the bestselling 2008 novel of the same name by John le Carr� ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "The Constant Gardener"), the film is set within the German city of Hamburg, which (as the picture informs us), is where Mohammad Atta and his associates planned out the attacks that occurred on September 11th.

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman stars as G�nter Bachman, the alcoholic leader of an underground anti-terrorist organization. Determined to obtain information from the Islamic community living within the urban locale, he hopes to obtain information that will lead them to more authoritative figures involved in terrorist activities. Aided by his colleague, Erna Frey (Nina Hoss) Bachman becomes invested in the ongoing activities of a volatile Chechen Muslim suspect, Issa Karpov (Grigoriy Dobrygin), after he illegally immigrates into Germany following the torture he suffered within both of his native countries.

After seeking asylum with two Muslim citizens in their apartment, Karpov reaches out to human rights attorney, Annabel Richter (Rachel McAdams), who aids him in his pursuit of obtaining his father's financial inheritance from a bank headed by a man named Tommy Brue (Willem Dafoe), who also begins to cooperate with Bachman as his investigation steadily grows more intense.

Complicating matters even further is the play-by-the-books leader of the Hamburg intelligence agency, Dieter Mohr (Rainer Bock), as well as a dubious CIA-agent, Martha Sullivan (Robin Wright), both of whom Bachman remains hesitant in trusting despite their cunning expertise within their fields.

There's a lot to keep track of here in regards to the multiple, enigmatic characters and how they intertwine within the dense, multi-layered saga of deception, but that's what makes the film so absorbing, keeping the viewer on their toes as to their ethical forms of motivation. As a result, the film may come off as a cold, mechanical piece of work, but the performances from this impressive ensemble are so strong that subtle moments of empathy are dropped sparingly like breadcrumbs throughout their meticulous pursuits for justification and answers.

The film also stands as a poignant, posthumous tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman, who once again proves himself one of the greatest actors of this generation. His portrayal of Bachman conveys simultaneous shades of elegance and utmost intensity, embodying the detracted, wounded heart at the center of the calculated story.

While it may be too leisurely paced for some audiences, "A Most Wanted Man" is a film that rewards viewers for their patience, and an effective reminder that intellectually stimulating drama can be just as riveting and suspenseful as high-octane action sequences, if not more so. As an allegorical jigsaw puzzle on post-9/11 persecution, as well as a gripping mosaic of characters devoting themselves to "making the world a safer place," this film sneaks up on you with grittily concealed force.