The Virtuoso movie review 2021

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RATING: R (very hard R)

LENGTH: 1 hour, 50 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

If the title has you thinking this movie is about a musical genius, you will be sadly mistaken. Technically, the definition of a virtuoso is a person who is highly skilled in an artistic pursuit. The skilled pursuit illustrated in this crime thriller is that of assassination.

If the presence of Anthony Hopkins also has you thinking this movie is going to be awesome, you will be sadly mistaken.

THINGS I LIKED:

I’ve actually never seen anything with intense actor Anson Mount in it, even though I know he got an early start in film as a teenager! After playing the handsome love interest of Britney Spears in the coming-of-age dramedy Crossroads in 2002, he immediately chose other roles that were more dramatic and meaty so as not to be typecast as a lightweight hunk. He is cold steel in this movie as a skilled antihero assassin. In a recent interview I watched, he said the movie isn’t really just an action movie but actually more of a coming-of-age story about someone who is still very much a child. That “child-like” character he plays is illustrated when he is with his dog and dependant on his boss, Anthony Hopkins’ character. Mount described the story as an internal arc on a journey of self-discovery. Anson Mount is so good-looking that you want to root for him and believe his character has a sense of compassion and humanity inside his murdering, robotic heart.
With Anthony Hopkins’ most recent Academy Award for Best Actor for The Father, people are naturally going to want to watch this movie because he’s in it. He’s great in it, of course, but he doesn’t have as much screen time as you might be expecting. I don’t want to give any spoilers here but comment down below if you believe Anthony Hopkins’ character did what he did at the end of the movie out of greed, power, control, or love.
I love a good twist.
The narration aspect of the film gives it a film Noir flavor and gives you insights into the assassin’s thinking process. His actions and decisions are very methodical, which explains the slowing pacing of the movie. The Virtuoso explains to us the importance of taking your time to get something done right and the movie does the same. Some viewers are complaining that the cloak and dagger story is too slow and boring, but I didn’t think it was as bad as everyone else seems to be saying.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

There is some action, but don’t expect it to be a fast-moving action flick. It’s more of a crime thriller.
I’ve always liked Abbie Cornish in films and think she’s so pretty but was disappointed that she took a role where she’s topless. I guess I’m a prude, but it seems like going topless is something a desperate, young actress chooses to do when she wants to get into show business and has to start somewhere. The movie starts off with another topless actress. Shame on director Nick Stagliano for doing that. It just wasn’t necessary for Abbie to have to disrobe, other than to keep the male viewers watching the screen in a movie that they might be getting disinterested in due to the slow pacing. My motherly advice: Ladies, don’t just give it away and be so easy.
It’s a very slow burn with a payoff that makes you wonder if you just completely wasted almost 2 hours of your life or if the movie is smarter than you.
Although there is a predictable twist, there were some elements of the story I didn’t quite expect.
The plot is pretty ridiculous: send a hitman to perform a job without telling him who he is supposed to kill…
Some of the CGI is really bad.
There is so much exposition that Act 1 almost feels like you’re listening to an audiobook.