What to Watch This Weekend: All the Old Knives

All the Old Knives is the story of Henry (Chris Pine) and Celia (Thandie Newton), two spies with a former romantic entanglement. Several years ago, the two became involved in a tense operation involving the hijacking of a grounded flight. Now, Henry has been ordered by his superior Vick (Laurence Fishburne) to interrogate Celia to revisit the events of the incident and provide some closure. Over dinner, the two recount their version of the fateful day. As the discussion evolves, they enter into a cat and mouse game where all is not as it seems.

What works in All the Old Knives is the tension and chemistry. Framed almost as a stage play, the heart of the film is the meal shared by Pine and Newton. Over this exchange every word, movement, and facial recognition is planned and has meaning between the two as they size each other up during the double evaluation. Pine summarizes this well when at one point he declares: “Well, you’ve convinced me.” Celia inquires of what, to which Henry elaborates: “…that you’re very good at convincing.” The level of suspense is high, but not exhausting, and this will keep audience members on their toes and continually guessing. This exchange works well because of the work that Pine and Newtown put into their characters. It’s clear that they held affection for each other but are now highly suspicious.

RELATED: Chris Pine Stars In New Trailer For All The Old Knives

All the Old Knives is a bit of a slow burn, and the deliberate pacing may not move quickly enough for some people. This is not an action movie, but rather a thriller and one that rides almost entirely on its dialogue. Audiences looking for something more up-tempo in the genre may want to choose another option. Furthermore, watchers be warned that the violence and nudity (while brief) are graphic. Finally, there are some intense moments involving children in peril which could be unsettling for some people.

There’s plenty to enjoy with All the Old Knives. It feels like a good novel which is unsurprising since it was adapted from Olen Steinhauer’s book of the same name (he also penned the screenplay). While it may not drastically break new ground, the engaging characters will keep audiences wondering what twists lay ahead until its satisfying ending.

Recommended if you Enjoyed: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, A Most Wanted Man, Body of Lies

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