PATRIOT GAMES OF THE DARKEST KIND! 'RED SPARROW' COMES TO UK BLU-RAY AND DVD

In the cold light of day: Jennifer Lawrence is Red Sparrow, out now on Blu-ray, Digital, and DVD.

Following on from the complex modern action heroine showcase traditions of Angelina Jolie's Salt, and Charlize Theron's wild Atomic Blonde, comes the fascinating aura that is Jennifer Lawrence, ever expanding her impressive Hollywood acting resume of dark and intense roles in her latest fan-acclaimed movie, playing the mysterious, enigmatic Dominika, a spy caught in the dangerous realms of a corrupt Russian defence system that has uniquely trained her to be the ultimate sexual weapon of our modern world's compelling and fascinating Cold War times between super powers, as Red Sparrow makes its intriguingly tense, disturbing debut on Blu-ray, Digital and DVD, courtesy of FOX.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmUL6wMpMWw

The ultimate weapon of state: Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika.

Based on the best selling thriller by Jason Matthews, Miss Lawrence clearly loves and make the most of her unique character within this edgy spy genre offering - a once former Bolhsoi prima ballerina, Dominika's glowing career is tragically cut short, and soon offered little choice in finding ways to care for her sick mother than to become a spy, via the will and wishes of her leery 'Uncle Ivan'. Soon enrolled to become one of the mysterious and legendary 'Sparrows', an elite force of young men and women trained by the State to use their sexual prowess and bodies in luring their enemies to blackmail and treason in the hottest of ways in and out of the bedroom- a weapon of choice skill-set that she will gain artistry and acceptance of, Dominika is quickly dispatched on her first mission to control and manipulate a top lone CIA agent out to find his important gone-to-ground Russian mole/contact, who is currently operating within the upper echelons of the Moscovian power base. In his own unique position behind the Iron Curtain, Nate sees Dominika as a potentially credible and highly effective double agent likely willing to be used for the CIA's gain. But as their relationship deepens and intensifies, just who is pulling the strings on who as the story enters several other sub-plots full of betrayal, violence and uneasy alliances.

The spy in the cold: Joel Edgerton as Nate.

At times, Red Sparrow has ambitions to be a more brutal attempt at the kind of suspense thriller with erotic overtones that the late master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock used to excel at, if more stylistically grander in tone with this modern cinematic age- and it's a film that isn't afraid to bring sexual sadism and some genuinely make-you-squirm moments in to your viewing room.

Opposites attract!

Importantly, Lawrence rises above the adapted material in her role, consistently excellent throughout when immersed in the complex layers of her building character, revealing and fusing vulnerability with kick-ass confidence whilst becoming all manner of personalities as the audience wonders just where her loyalties and goals ultimately lie, especially once becoming a Sparrow. Dominika is in many ways the 'flip side' to the kind of performance Lawrence gave as the heroic Caitlin in The Hunger Games saga.

Joel Edgerton also gives a solid, subtly under the radar style of performance as the likable and dedicated spy who knows his mission, his people and his job, but it never feels like there's enough genuine onscreen chemistry between the star pairing, especially in the film's key second half. You want to care more than you actually do about their future once the clever denouement has been revealed.

Dominika uses her striking physical beauty as part of her Sparrow infiltration.

No good spy thriller would be complete without a wide array of excellent character actors around the main stars, and Red Sparrow is blessed with a superb assemblage: Matthias Schoenaerts as the scheming and repulsive Putin-esque looking uncle, Natasha Richardson as Dominika's ill mother, Charlotte Rampling as her cruelly efficient teacher in the way of all things Sparrows-related, Douglas Hodge once more back in a seedy role as a Russian liaison, alongside the sexy Eurobabe Thekla Reuten, the ever statesman-like Ciaran Hinds, and, importantly, Jeremy Irons as a shady and influential Russian spymaster.

Attempting to revitalise the genre in a new way, there's slick framing direction from Hunger Games veteran Francis Lawrence, integrated with spartan cinematography from Jo Willems showcasing secret worlds within secret worlds both behind the Iron Curtain as well as inside the shady, morals free and corrupt European borders around it, with fine use of locations in Hungary as well as a side trip to that new home of international money laundering that is London. Effective music from the ever-reliable James Newton Howard also adds greatly to the film's tone and menace.

SPECIAL FEATURES (DVD): A selection of brief deleted scenes and an audio commentary from the director.

KOOL TV RATING: Though a little long at 2 hours 10 mins, Jennifer Lawrence succeeds in keeping our attention on this solid-enough international effort mixing drama, thrills, intrigue and the power of sexual manipulation. 3 out of 5

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Sparrow-DVD-Jennifer-Lawrence/dp/B079VWYTHB/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1531995147&sr=8-2&keywords=red+sparrow