A contemporary, potentially timely, Russian - centered espionage thriller (minus, alas, any recognizable thrills), Red Sparrow ends as it begins, as an unlikely, ultimately forgettable misfire unlikely to appear in career highlight reels for
second youngest performer to win an Academy Award for Best Actress (Silver Linings Playbook).
Certain filmgoers might think concern over the fate of Hoffman's work in the
young adult novel adaptation series was unnecessary, given the breadth of the fan - favorite
performer's career in movies and on stage; yet, Hoffman was a standout in the well - received
second installment, Catching Fire, and many fans (
young and old) were eager to see him return in the two remaining sequels.