Film Review: The Bricklayer 諜影縱橫 (2023) - USA
Rating: 5/10
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)
"The Bricklayer" is a convoluted action thriller that struggles to lay a solid foundation for its narrative. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film follows the reactivation of Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart), a former CIA field agent turned bricklayer, as he is pulled back into the world of espionage to track down a vengeful former asset, Victor Radek (Clifton Collins Jr.). With a promising premise drawn from Noah Boyd's novel, the movie fails to fully capitalize on its potential.
The plot is a tangled web of betrayals, double-crossings, and predictable twists that fail to engage the audience beyond surface-level suspense. While Aaron Eckhart delivers a serviceable performance as the brooding protagonist, the character development feels shallow, leaving the audience disconnected from his motivations and struggles.
Nina Dobrev's portrayal of Kate, the junior CIA agent, adds a touch of freshness to the otherwise clichéd espionage genre, but her character lacks depth and agency, serving primarily as a sidekick to Vail's erratic decisions.
Despite some gripping action sequences and picturesque locations, the film's pacing falters, bogged down by unnecessary subplots and meandering dialogue. The attempts at injecting emotion and moral dilemmas into the narrative fall flat, failing to resonate with the viewer on a deeper level.
The supporting cast, including Tim Blake Nelson as CIA Director O'Malley and Ilfenesh Hadera as Tye, deliver competent performances, but their characters feel underdeveloped and fail to leave a lasting impact.
Overall, "The Bricklayer" is a forgettable addition to the action thriller genre. While it offers moments of tension and intrigue, the film ultimately crumbles under the weight of its convoluted plot and lackluster character development. Renny Harlin's direction struggles to elevate the material beyond its formulaic trappings, resulting in a film that fails to leave a lasting impression on its audience.
In the end, "The Bricklayer" remains a middling entry in the world of espionage cinema, lacking the depth and nuance needed to truly captivate viewers and distinguish itself from the plethora of similar offerings in the genre. (Neo, 2025)