Chief of Station
By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Generic spy action movie has lots of violence, language.
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Chief of Station
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Based on 2 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In CHIEF OF STATION, Ben Malloy (Aaron Eckhart), a former CIA station chief, finishes a job in Eastern Europe with his partner, John Branca (Alex Pettyfer), and prepares to celebrate his anniversary with his wife, Farrah (Laëtitia Eïdo). But a terrible explosion rocks the restaurant, and Farrah is killed. Ben mourns until he gets a tip that there might be something more sinister afoot, and that his wife's death might not have been an accident. Things get more and more dangerous as he crosses paths with various criminals and his son, Nick (Chris Petrovski), is kidnapped. Ben must discover the secret of a message that Farrah left behind, and, with the help of an old colleague of Farrah's, Krystyna Kowerski (Olga Kurylenko), survive a final showdown.
Is It Any Good?
This generic spy thriller consists of rudimentary action and chase scenes, tons of exposition as characters explain the plot to one another, and textbook twists that lack life or spark. Chief of Station goes through the motions in such a cursory way that it's a wonder the characters aren't yawning their way through the dialogue. We have an unconnected opening scene, a scene in which the wife shockingly dies (except it's not so shocking, since it's been set up in the most familiar way possible), and a betrayal that comes as no surprise, since the villain practically wears their villainy on their face.
And so it goes, as we get to a chase scene in which two cars lazily cruise alongside each other at medium speeds—and even that old chestnut in which the Big Bad faces consequences when the Terrible Truth about him starts simultaneously popping up on everyone's phones. Each of these scenes looks more or less professional, with fine use of locations, and there's even a genuine sense of grief over Ben's loss. But the storytelling is so lackluster and done with the most minimal amount of effort that it's irritating. Chief of Station isn't good enough to be chief of anything.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Chief of Station's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What is the nature of revenge? Can it be satisfying? Why? Can it ever truly solve a problem?
Did you notice any diverse representations in the film? What about stereotypes?
Do you consider any of the characters to be role models? Why, or why not?
Why are stories about spies so interesting to many people? Why is spying romanticized?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 3, 2024
- On DVD or streaming: May 3, 2024
- Cast: Aaron Eckhart , Alex Pettyfer , Olga Kurylenko
- Director: Jesse V. Johnson
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Vertical
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: May 15, 2024
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