Red Sparrow
{{short description|2018 film by Francis Lawrence}}
{{About|the film|the novel on which the film is based|Red Sparrow (novel)|other uses|Red sparrow (disambiguation){{!}}Red sparrow}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Red Sparrow
| image = Red Sparrow.png
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Francis Lawrence
| producer = {{Plainlist|
}}
| screenplay = Justin Haythe
| story =
| based_on = {{Based on|Red Sparrow|Jason Matthews}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music = James Newton Howard
| cinematography = Jo Willems
| editing = Alan Edward Bell
| studio = {{Plainlist|
}}
| distributor = 20th Century Fox
| released = {{Film date|2018|2|15|Newseum|2018|3|2|United States{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-oscars-1202392948/ |title=Steven Spielberg Pentagon Papers Drama Gets 2017 Oscar Season Release |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=April 22, 2017 |newspaper=Variety |access-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423064254/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-oscars-1202392948/ |archive-date=April 23, 2017 |url-status=live }}}}
| runtime = 140 minutes{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/red-sparrow-2018 |title=RED SPARROW (2018) |publisher=British Board of Film Classification |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216143917/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/red-sparrow-2018 |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
| country = United States
| language = English
Russian
| gross = $151.6 million{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=redsparrow.htm |title=Red Sparrow (2018) |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724081213/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=redsparrow.htm |archive-date=July 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}
}}
Red Sparrow is a 2018 American spy thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Justin Haythe, based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Jason Matthews. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeremy Irons, and Ciarán Hinds. It tells the story of a former-ballerina-turned-Russian intelligence officer, who is sent to make contact with a CIA officer in the hope of discovering the identity of a mole.
Matthews, a former member of the CIA, advised the production on the depiction of spying. Based on historic Soviet sexpionage and contemporary Russian use of kompromat, filming took place in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
Red Sparrow premiered at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on February 15, 2018, and was released in the United States on March 2, 2018. The film grossed $151 million worldwide, becoming a modest box-office success, and received mixed reviews from critics, who described it as having "more style than substance" and criticized the film's long runtime and over-reliance on graphic violence and sex, although Lawrence's performance was praised.{{cite news|last1=Waters|first1=Michael|title='Red Sparrow': What the Critics Are Saying|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/red-sparrow-what-critics-are-saying-1085621|access-date=March 10, 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227213848/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/red-sparrow-what-critics-are-saying-1085621|archive-date=February 27, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/red-sparrow-review-roundup-jennifer-lawrence-1202702276/ |title='Red Sparrow' Review Roundup: What the Critics Are Saying |work=Variety |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227035701/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/red-sparrow-review-roundup-jennifer-lawrence-1202702276/ |archive-date=February 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Plot
In modern-day Russia, famous ballerina Dominika Egorova supports her infirmed mother. Her career abruptly ends after her dance partner injures her during a performance. After the Bolshoi cut her off, Dominika's Uncle Ivan, the deputy director of the SVR, reveals that her ex-partner, Konstantin, and a rival dancer, Sonya, who were lovers, deliberately injured her. Dominika seeks retribution by ambushing them in the Bolshoi showers and beating them with her cane, injuring both. To avoid prosecution and receive financial support, she agrees to help Ivan. She is tasked with seducing Dimitry Ustinov, a Russian gangster, in exchange for her mother's continued medical care.
Meeting at a bar, the two go to her private hotel room, where Dimitri rapes her but is quickly interrupted via garroted by Sergei Matorin, an SVR operative authorized by Ivan. They flee to a safehouse and Ivan offers Dominika a choice: become an SVR operative, or be executed for witnessing Ustinov's assassination.
Nate Nash is a CIA operative working in Moscow. While meeting with a Russian mole code-named Marble in Gorky Park, they are confronted by the police. Nash creates a diversion to ensure his contact escapes unidentified while reaching the U.S. Embassy. Nash is reassigned to the U.S. but insists he is the only person Marble will work with. Since he cannot return to Russia, he is assigned to Budapest to reestablish contact with Marble, which the SVR also deduce.
Dominika is sent to State School 4, a brutal specialist training school for "Sparrows"—operatives capable of seducing their targets with sexpionage where she's given the alias, Katya, and revealing her true identity and profession is forbidden. She excels in her training, despite some friction with her trainer, 'the Matron'. Against Matron's recommendation, Ivan and General Vladimir Korchnoi, a high-ranking official, decide that Dominika is ready for an assignment in Budapest—to gain Nash's trust and expose Marble's identity.
In Budapest, Dominika lives with fellow "sparrow" Marta, and is supervised by station chief Maxim Volontov. She makes contact with Nash, who quickly determines she is a Russian intelligence operative and attempts to convince her to defect.
Dominika inspects Marta's room and finds she has been assigned to buy classified intelligence from Stephanie Boucher, chief of staff to a U.S. Senator. When Ivan pressures her about her slow progress with Nash, Dominika claims to be helping Marta with Boucher as well.
Marta is brutally killed by Sergei Matorin after Dominika told her about the earlier incident with Ustinov. Dominika is then warned by Sergei that the same fate would befall her should she open her mouth about that again. She contacts Nash, agrees to become a double agent in exchange for protection for her and her mother, and has sex with him. Under Russian orders, Dominika travels to London with Volontov to meet Boucher and complete the trade, but covertly switches out the intelligence she supplies with CIA-supplied disinformation.
After the meeting, Boucher realizes that she is being observed by American intelligence agents, panics, then backs into traffic and is killed. Russian agents observing her realize their mission has been compromised. Suspected of tipping off the Americans, Dominika and Volontov are recalled to Moscow where they are tortured and interrogated for days.
Volontov is executed, but Dominika's claims of innocence are eventually believed by Ivan. She is allowed to return to Budapest to continue her mission of extracting Marble's identity from Nash. Instead, she convinces Nash to relocate her and her mother to America.
After spending the night with Nash, Dominika awakes to find him being tortured by Matorin for Marble's identity. She initially assists until Matorin lowers his guard and she kills him, but is badly injured while doing so. She awakes in a hospital where Korchnoi reveals himself as Marble. He explains that he was patriotic, but became disillusioned when a bureaucrat he had once offended refused to allow an American doctor to operate on his sick wife.
Korchnoi fears he will be caught soon so, instead of dying in vain, instructs Dominika to expose his identity to Ivan. Doing so would make her a national hero, and allow her to replace him as a mole passing intelligence to the CIA.
When Dominika contacts her superiors, she frames Ivan as the mole, using evidence she had been fabricating since she first arrived in Hungary, and blaming him for the botched exchange in London. Ivan is killed by a sniper during a prisoner exchange while Nate goes along with her plan to confirm the mole's identity, and Dominika is honored in a military ceremony after she returns to Russia.
Back in Russia, Dominika lives with her mother. She receives a phone call from an unknown person who plays Grieg's piano concerto, which she had told Nash was the piece for her first solo performance. The film ends with her watching a ballet performance at the Bolshoi from the balcony and leaving mid-performance.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova, a former prima ballerina who is now a "Sparrow"{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthias-schoenaerts-jeremy-irons-joining-jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-952303 |title=Matthias Schoenaerts, Jeremy Irons Joining Jennifer Lawrence in 'Red Sparrow' (Exclusive) |last=Ford |first=Rebecca |date=December 6, 2016 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=April 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612170253/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/matthias-schoenaerts-jeremy-irons-joining-jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-952303 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live }}
- Joel Edgerton as Nate Nash, a CIA operative
- Matthias Schoenaerts as Ivan Vladimirovich Egorov,{{cite news |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/227651/red-sparrow-director-talks-working-jennifer-lawrence |title='Red Sparrow' director talks about working with Jennifer Lawrence again |first=Ruben V. |last=Nepales |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=May 26, 2017 |access-date=April 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713102510/http://entertainment.inquirer.net/227651/red-sparrow-director-talks-working-jennifer-lawrence |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |url-status=live }} Dominika’s uncle and Deputy Director of the SVR
- Charlotte Rampling as Matron, the Headmistress of Sparrow School{{cite news |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/oscar_nominated_actress_charlotte_rampling_talks_about_growing_up_in_east_anglia_1_4927658 |title=Oscar-nominated actress Charlotte Rampling talks about growing up in East Anglia |date=March 12, 2017 |newspaper=Eastern Daily Press |publisher=Archant Community Media |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312135557/http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/oscar_nominated_actress_charlotte_rampling_talks_about_growing_up_in_east_anglia_1_4927658 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}
- Mary-Louise Parker as Stephanie Boucher, a US Senator's Chief of Staff
- Ciarán Hinds as Colonel Zakharov, Director of the SVR
- Joely Richardson as Nina Egorova, Dominika’s ailing mother
- Bill Camp as Marty Gable, Nash's supervisor
- Jeremy Irons as General Vladimir Andreievich Korchnoi, a high-ranking SVR officer who was revealed to be the CIA mole codenamed "Marble"
- Thekla Reuten as Marta Yelenova, a veteran Sparrow
- Douglas Hodge as Colonel Maxim Volontov, SVR Budapest Section Chief
- Sakina Jaffrey as Trish Forsyth, CIA Station Commander{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/sakina-jaffrey-red-sparrow-fox-bill-marchant-volition-indie-1201970775/ |title=Sakina Jaffrey Cast In Fox's 'Red Sparrow'; Bill Marchant Joins Sci-Fi Indie 'Volition' |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media |first=Amanda |last=N'Duka |date=February 27, 2017 |access-date=February 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228083108/http://deadline.com/2017/02/sakina-jaffrey-red-sparrow-fox-bill-marchant-volition-indie-1201970775/ |archive-date=February 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}
- Sergei Polunin as Konstantin, Dominika's former dance partner
- Nicole O'Neal as Sonya, a rival ballerina and Konstantin's lover
- Sasha Frolova as Anya, friend of Dominika and classmate at the Sparrow school
- Sebastian Hülk as Sergei Matorin, a Russian operative and torture expert
- Kristof Konrad as Dimitri Ustinov, a Russian gangster{{Cite news |url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/230317/ |title=Jennifer Lawrence filming spy thriller 'Red Sparrow' in Budapest |work=PanARMENIAN.Net |access-date=August 23, 2017 |date=January 18, 2017 |publisher=PanARMENIAN Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824012333/http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/230317/ |archive-date=August 24, 2017 |url-status=live }} who presents himself as a patron of arts
- Hugh Quarshie as Simon Benford, CIA officer
}}
Production
=Development=
After Jason Matthews' book Red Sparrow was published in 2013, 20th Century Fox purchased the film rights, and signed Francis Lawrence to direct.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/02/22/red-sparrow-book-to-movie-jason-matthews/ |title=Inside Red Sparrow: From best-selling spy novel to Jennifer Lawrence blockbuster |last=Rankin |first=Seija |date=February 25, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307082327/http://ew.com/movies/2018/02/22/red-sparrow-book-to-movie-jason-matthews/ |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |url-status=live }} Matthews said the idea of "sparrows" and a "sparrow school" was based on State School 4 in the Soviet Union, though Russian "sexpionage" is now done by women contracted outside of spy agencies. The Russian concept of kompromat was also influential.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/03/red-sparrow-used-to-be-an-actual-phenomenon-during-the-cold-war.html |title='Red Sparrow' used to be an actual phenomenon during the Cold War, and in some ways still is: Author |last=David |first=Javier E. |date=March 3, 2018 |publisher=CNBC |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308042613/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/03/red-sparrow-used-to-be-an-actual-phenomenon-during-the-cold-war.html |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |url-status=live }} Francis worked on adapting Matthews' book in 2015, and has said that at the time, he had reservations about the timelines of a Cold War story.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-red-sparrow-jennifer-lawrence-20180223-story.html |title=Sex, violence and a Russian accent: Jennifer Lawrence takes another big risk with 'Red Sparrow' |last=Rottenberg |first=Josh |date=February 25, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306125246/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-red-sparrow-jennifer-lawrence-20180223-story.html |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Screenwriter Justin Haythe reduced the number of narrators and shifting perspectives in the novel, concentrating on Dominika. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who appears in the novel, was also cut from the adaptation, due to Francis Lawrence's belief that it would be a distraction to have an actor play the highly public figure.{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2018-03-01/red-sparrow-director-on-jennifer-lawrences-racy-scenes-and-why-he-cut-vladimir-putin-from-the-movie/ |title=Red Sparrow director on Jennifer Lawrence's racy scenes and why he cut Vladimir Putin from the movie |last=Lazarus |first=Susanna |date=March 1, 2018 |work=Radio Times |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310001822/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2018-03-01/red-sparrow-director-on-jennifer-lawrences-racy-scenes-and-why-he-cut-vladimir-putin-from-the-movie/ |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Matthews, who said he based his book on his experiences in the CIA, was also hired as technical advisor, to supervise the accuracy of the depiction of espionage. He had the Gorky Park scene rewritten to depict espionage methods more accurately.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/05/590001771/red-sparrow-author-and-ex-cia-agent-says-new-movie-gets-spy-life-right |title='Red Sparrow' Author And Ex-CIA Agent Says New Movie Gets Spy Life Right |last=Kelly |first=Mary Louise |date=March 5, 2018 |work=All Things Considered |publisher=NPR |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306115901/https://www.npr.org/2018/03/05/590001771/red-sparrow-author-and-ex-cia-agent-says-new-movie-gets-spy-life-right |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}
=Casting=
Francis Lawrence presented the screenplay to Jennifer Lawrence, who accepted the part. She stated she admired the character and his direction, with her sole point of hesitation being the "really sexual" nature of the character. They met to discuss the nude scenes.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-nude-scenes-1202711889/ |title=Jennifer Lawrence's 'Red Sparrow' Nude Scenes Made Her More Secure in Wake of Photo Hack |last=Harrison |first=Alexa |date=February 27, 2018 |work=Variety|access-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307151128/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-nude-scenes-1202711889/ |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |url-status=live }} In 2014, Jennifer Lawrence had private nude photos stolen in the iCloud leaks. However, she drew a distinction between the film and the leak based on her consent to the film, as opposed to the leak.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/red-sparrow-jennifer-lawrence-nude-scenes-francis-lawrence-1201933041/ |title='Red Sparrow' Director Francis Lawrence Gave Star Jennifer Lawrence Control Over Spy Thriller's Nude Scenes |last=Erbland |first=Kate |date=February 28, 2018 |website=IndieWire |publisher=Penske Business Media |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303185058/http://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/red-sparrow-jennifer-lawrence-nude-scenes-francis-lawrence-1201933041/ |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |url-status=live }} Lawrence explained: "The insecurity and fear of being judged for getting nude, what I went through, should that dictate decisions I make for the rest of my life?"{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-naked-nude-scenes-response-a8232166.html |title=Jennifer Lawrence says Red Sparrow naked scenes helped her get past photo hack |last=Hooton |first=Christopher |date=February 28, 2018 |work=The Independent |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202410/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-naked-nude-scenes-response-a8232166.html |archive-date=March 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Matthews advised Lawrence that double agents from Russia feel "a dread of discovery, a dread of being arrested, a dread of going to prison." Lawrence also studied ballet for four months.{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2313232/one-hard-thing-about-filming-red-sparrow-according-to-jennifer-lawrence |title=One Hard Thing About Filming Red Sparrow, According To Jennifer Lawrence |last=Holmes |first=Adam |date=February 2018 |work=Cinema Blend |publisher=GatewayBlend Entertainment |access-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307151054/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2313232/one-hard-thing-about-filming-red-sparrow-according-to-jennifer-lawrence |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |url-status=live }} Kurt Froman of the New York City Ballet coached her, as she had never studied ballet before, and spent four hours with her each day for five days per week.{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-ballerina-kurt-froman_us_5a9718e1e4b0e6a5230461da |title=Meet The Man Who Helped Make Jennifer Lawrence A 'Red Sparrow' Ballerina |last=Wong |first=Curtis M. |date=March 5, 2018 |work=HuffPost |publisher=Oath |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307191422/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-ballerina-kurt-froman_us_5a9718e1e4b0e6a5230461da |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |url-status=live }} American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Isabella Boylston acted as Lawrence's dance double.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/arts/dance/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-kurt-froman-isabella-boylston.html|title=How a Dance Dream Team Turned Jennifer Lawrence Into a Ballerina|work=The New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=27 February 2018|access-date=14 April 2020}}
As a former member of the CIA, Matthews coached actor Joel Edgerton. Edgerton said it was difficult to consider having "an interpersonal dating-style relationship ... [and] That fact that you would have to report any of those kinds of interactions with your bosses." Matthias Schoenaerts and Jeremy Irons joined the cast by December 2016.
=Filming=
File:Dég, Festetics-kastély.jpg]]
Principal photography started in Budapest and Dunaújváros in Hungary on January 5, 2017.{{cite web |url=http://24.hu/szorakozas/2017/01/07/budapest-utcajan-fotoztak-le-jennifer-lawrence-t/ |title=Budapest utcáján fotózták le Jennifer Lawrence-t |date=January 7, 2017 |website=24.hu |language=hu |access-date=January 12, 2017 |publisher=Central Digitális Média |author=24.hu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220546/http://24.hu/szorakozas/2017/01/07/budapest-utcajan-fotoztak-le-jennifer-lawrence-t/ |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://cosmopolitan.hu/sztarhirek/2017/01/08/itt-vannak-az-elso-budapesti-fotok-jennifer-lawrence-rol/ |title=Itt vannak az első budapesti fotók Jennifer Lawrence-ről |date=January 8, 2017 |website=Cosmopolitan.hu |language=hu |access-date=January 12, 2017 |publisher=Central Médiacsoport |last=Andi |first=Jeney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612165054/http://cosmopolitan.hu/sztarhirek/2017/01/08/itt-vannak-az-elso-budapesti-fotok-jennifer-lawrence-rol/ |archive-date=June 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://dailynewshungary.com/jennifer-lawrence-arrived-budapest/ |title=Jennifer Lawrence Arrived in Budapest |date=January 5, 2017 |website=Daily News Hungary |access-date=January 12, 2017 |last=Vass |first=Eszter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915023313/https://dailynewshungary.com/jennifer-lawrence-arrived-budapest/ |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |url-status=live }} Other filming locations include Festetics Mansion in Dég, Hungary;{{cite web |url=https://www.feol.hu/hirek/amerikai-filmet-forgatnak-degen-jennifer-lawrence-is-felbukkanhat-a-faluban-1815306/ |title=Amerikai filmet forgatnak Dégen: Jennifer Lawrence is felbukkanhat a faluban |date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |publisher=Mediaworks Hungary |language=hu |last=Judit |first=Szanyi-Nagy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918121315/https://www.feol.hu/hirek/amerikai-filmet-forgatnak-degen-jennifer-lawrence-is-felbukkanhat-a-faluban-1815306/ |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |url-status=live }} Bratislava, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/artisans/spotlight/jennifer-lawrence-1202605047-1202605047/ |title=Hungarian Cast and Crew of 'Red Sparrow' Helped Spy Thriller Take Flight |date=November 2, 2017 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |work=Variety |last=Barraclough |first=Leo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511141622/http://variety.com/2017/artisans/spotlight/jennifer-lawrence-1202605047-1202605047/ |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}
=Post-production=
In post-production, Francis Lawrence offered Jennifer Lawrence the opportunity to view a cut of the film ahead of the studio and producers, so that she might request the deletion of any nude or sexual scenes. She declined to request any deletions. However, the film was edited for the United Kingdom release to remove a garroting and secure a 15 certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a850089/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-re-edited-avoid-18-strong-sadistic-violence/ |title=Jennifer Lawrence's new movie had to be re-edited to avoid an 18 certificate for 'strong sadistic violence' |last=Warner |first=Sam |date=February 15, 2018 |work=Digital Spy |access-date=March 9, 2018 |publisher=Hearst Magazines UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310013528/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a850089/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-re-edited-avoid-18-strong-sadistic-violence/ |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}
{{listen|type=music|filename=Edvard Grieg - piano concerto in a minor, op. 16 - ii. adagio.ogg
| title = 2. Adagio
| description = Grieg's piano concerto
| format = Ogg
}}
{{Main|Red Sparrow (soundtrack)}}
For the soundtrack, the 1868 Piano Concerto by Edvard Grieg was used.{{cite web |url=https://www.nwpb.org/2018/03/02/elementor-13941/ |title=FILM REVIEW: A Dancer Transformed Into A 'Red Sparrow' |last=Reeder |first=Steve |date=March 2, 2018 |work=Northwest Public Radio |publisher=Edward R. Murrow College of Communication |access-date=March 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064302/https://www.nwpb.org/2018/03/02/elementor-13941/ |archive-date=March 26, 2018 |url-status=live }} James Newton Howard wrote the score, recorded in October 2017, citing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem and Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird as influences. He commenced work before seeing a cut of the film.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-red-sparrow-score-20180302-story.html |title=Making music for Russian spies: 'Hunger Games' team reunites for 'Red Sparrow' |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=March 2, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064059/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-red-sparrow-score-20180302-story.html |archive-date=March 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Release
The film was originally scheduled to be released by 20th Century Fox on November 10, 2017, but in April 2017 it was announced that the film's release would be pushed back to March 2, 2018, because it was seen as a less competitive one.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/jennifer-lawrence-spy-thriller-red-sparrow-pushed-2018/ |title=Jennifer Lawrence Spy Thriller 'Red Sparrow' Pushed to 2018 |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=April 22, 2017 |access-date=February 15, 2018 |work=TheWrap |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216084651/https://www.thewrap.com/jennifer-lawrence-spy-thriller-red-sparrow-pushed-2018/ |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-status=live }} The studio's adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express was moved into Red Sparrow{{'}}s November slot. The first trailer for the film was released on September 14, 2017.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/red-sparrow-trailer-jennifer-lawrence/ |last=Keene |first=Allison |title=First 'Red Sparrow' Trailer Reveals Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian Spy |date=September 14, 2017 |work=Collider |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308041617/http://collider.com/red-sparrow-trailer-jennifer-lawrence/ |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |url-status=live }} The film premiered on February 15, 2018, at the Newseum,{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/article/feed/1760698 |title=DC Premiere of 'Red Sparrow' |last=Clarke |first=Brent N. |date=February 15, 2018 |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=NewsOK |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307191710/http://newsok.com/article/feed/1760698 |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |url-status=live }} and began a U.S. theatrical release on March 2.
Red Sparrow screened at FEST in Belgrade on February 28, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/film-fest-invites-belgraders-to-come-closer--02-12-2018 |work=Balkan Insight|publisher=Balkan Investigative Reporting Network |title=Belgrade's International Film Festival Kicks Off |last=Galic |first=David |date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223101408/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/film-fest-invites-belgraders-to-come-closer--02-12-2018 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |url-status=live }} It was released in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/video-preview-films-not-miss-in-march-2018-1-5415757 |title=Video preview: films not to miss at the cinema in March 2018 |last=Parkin |first=Simon |date=March 1, 2018 |work=Eastern Daily Press |publisher=Archant Community Media |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310001922/http://www.edp24.co.uk/going-out/video-preview-films-not-miss-in-march-2018-1-5415757 |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}
=Home media=
Red Sparrow was released on digital streaming platforms on May 15, 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribute.ca/movies/red-sparrow/122562/ |title=Red Sparrow |work=Tribute |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112316/https://www.tribute.ca/movies/red-sparrow/122562/ |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }} It was released on 4K UHD Blu-ray,{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/21/red-sparrow-4k-ultra-hd-review/ |title='Red Sparrow' 4K Ultra HD review |work=The Washington Times |first=Joseph |last=Szadkowski |date=May 20, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522014751/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/21/red-sparrow-4k-ultra-hd-review/ |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |url-status=live }} Blu-ray and DVD on May 22, 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2018/05/19/week-entertainment-han-solo-theaters-red-sparrow-dvd/599622002/ |title=Week in entertainment: 'Han Solo' in theaters, 'Red Sparrow' on DVD |work=USA Today |first=Mary |last=Cadden |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520061653/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2018/05/19/week-entertainment-han-solo-theaters-red-sparrow-dvd/599622002/ |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Reception
=Box office=
Red Sparrow grossed $46.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $104.7 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $151.5 million, against a production budget of $69 million.
In the United States and Canada, Red Sparrow was released alongside Death Wish, and was projected to gross $20–24 million from 3,056 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-black-panther-death-wish-bruce-willis-1202305645/ |title='Black Panther' To Wave Off 'Death Wish' & Eat 'Red Sparrow' – Box Office Preview |work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media |date=February 28, 2018 |author=Anthony D'Alessandro |access-date=February 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228181454/http://deadline.com/2018/02/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-black-panther-death-wish-bruce-willis-1202305645/ |archive-date=February 28, 2018 |url-status=live }} It made $6 million on its first day (including $1.2 million from Thursday night previews) and $17 million over the weekend, finishing second, behind holdover Black Panther. Deadline Hollywood noted the opening was underwhelming given the film's $69 million budget, and that Lawrence's salary of $15–20 million was too much to spend on one star.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-black-panther-death-wish-bruce-willis-box-office-1202308124/ |title='Black Panther' Busts Past Half Billion; 'Red Sparrow' Flies Low With $17M – Sunday AM B.O. Update |work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media |date=March 4, 2018 |author=Anthony D'Alessandro |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303225856/https://deadline.com/2018/03/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-black-panther-death-wish-bruce-willis-box-office-1202308124/ |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |url-status=live }} It fell 51% in its second weekend to $8.15 million, finishing fourth.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/a-wrinkle-in-time-black-panther-weekend-box-office-1202324260/ |title='Black Panther' Rules 4th Frame With $41M+; 'A Wrinkle In Time' At $33M+: A Diversity & Disney Dominant Weekend |work=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Business Media |date=March 11, 2018 |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |access-date=March 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311052636/http://deadline.com/2018/03/a-wrinkle-in-time-black-panther-weekend-box-office-1202324260/ |archive-date=March 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} In the United Kingdom, the film was second at the box office in its opening weekend after Black Panther,{{cite web |title=Weekend box office report: 2-4 March 2018 |url=https://core-cms.bfi.org.uk/media/832/download |format=XLS |website=BFI |location=London |access-date=27 November 2024}} and went on to gross £6.4 million.{{cite web |title=Weekend box office report: 18-20 May 2018 |url=https://core-cms.bfi.org.uk/media/815/download |format=XLS |website=BFI |location=London |access-date=27 November 2024}}
=Critical response=
File:Jennifer Lawrence SDCC 2015.jpg's performance was praised by critics.]]
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, and an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "Red Sparrow aims for smart, sexy spy thriller territory, but Jennifer Lawrence's committed performance isn't enough to compensate for thin characters and a convoluted story."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_sparrow|title=Red Sparrow (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218002346/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_sparrow|archive-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on 51 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/red-sparrow |title=Red Sparrow Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330223632/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/red-sparrow |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times found the film to be "preposterously entertaining" and credited its success to Lawrence's performance, writing that "like all great stars, [Lawrence] can slip into a role as if sliding into another skin, unburdened by hesitation or self-doubt."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/movies/review-red-sparrow-has-spies-lies-and-dirty-dancing.html |title=Review: 'Red Sparrow' Has Spies, Lies and Dirty Dancing |first=Manohla |last=Dargis |work=The New York Times |date=March 1, 2018 |access-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302155920/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/movies/review-red-sparrow-has-spies-lies-and-dirty-dancing.html |archive-date=March 2, 2018 |url-status=live }} IndieWire's Eric Kohn, who graded the film a B, noted the performances of Lawrence and Rampling, stating that "the considerable talent on display is [the film's] constant saving grace." However, he also found that the film "doesn't know when to stop, sagging into bland torture scenes and an underwhelming final showdown."{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/red-sparrow-review-jennifer-lawrence-1201929525/ |title='Red Sparrow' Review: Jennifer Lawrence Is a Badass Russian Spy Who Uses Her Sexuality Like a Weapon in Solid Thriller |first=Eric |last=Kohn |work=IndieWire |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217051946/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/red-sparrow-review-jennifer-lawrence-1201929525/ |archive-date=February 17, 2018 |url-status=live }} Giving the film a B−, The A.V. Club{{'}}s Jesse Hassenger noted its methodical nature, with its minimal action and character exploration, and remarked that Francis Lawrence "brings to this material what he brought to The Hunger Games: a sense of style that feels constrained by obligations to hit a certain number of plot points."{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/jennifer-lawrence-tweaks-her-action-heroine-steeliness-1823058851 |title=Jennifer Lawrence tweaks her action-heroine steeliness in the half-trashy Red Sparrow |first=Jesse |last=Hassenger |work=The A.V. Club |publisher=The Onion |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216203620/https://www.avclub.com/jennifer-lawrence-tweaks-her-action-heroine-steeliness-1823058851 |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Alonso Duralde of TheWrap criticized the derivative story and the lack of chemistry between Lawrence and Edgerton, calling the film "neither intelligent enough to be involving nor fun enough to be trashy."{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/red-sparrow-film-review-jennifer-lawrence/ |title='Red Sparrow' Film Review: Jennifer Lawrence Swans About in Silly Spy Tale |first=Alonso |last=Durande |work=TheWrap |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217082511/https://www.thewrap.com/red-sparrow-film-review-jennifer-lawrence/ |archive-date=February 17, 2018 |url-status=live }} Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars and said, "Half of the Red Sparrow audience will spend at least part of the running time fighting off memories of Salt and Atomic Blonde and the Black Widow storyline from The Avengers. The other half, meantime, will wonder when spy movies became quite so punishing."{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Michael |author-link=Michael Phillips (critic) |title='Red Sparrow' review: Jennifer Lawrence dances with espionage |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-mov-red-sparrow-0227-story.html |access-date=March 1, 2018 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=February 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301085732/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/sc-mov-red-sparrow-0227-story.html |archive-date=March 1, 2018 |url-status=live }} Simran Hans of The Guardian found the film to be sexist, writing that "it busies itself with the grim surface pleasures of ogling its central character as she is degraded in every way possible."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/04/red-sparrow-jennifer-lawrence-russian-spy-review |title=Red Sparrow review – sexist spy thriller |first=Simran |last=Hans |work=The Guardian |date=March 4, 2018 |access-date=March 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304102747/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/04/red-sparrow-jennifer-lawrence-russian-spy-review |archive-date=March 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Emily Gaudette of Newsweek called the film a "sadistic torture porn" and went on to ask "how many naked women need to be assaulted in a film before a director has made his point? ... for Francis Lawrence, the answer is a pile so big it's impossible to tell the victims apart."{{cite news|url= https://www.newsweek.com/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-rape-829511|title='Red Sparrow' is Sadistic Torture Porn That Even Star Jennifer Lawrence Can't Save |last=Gaudette |first= Emily |work=Newsweek |date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110191409/https://www.newsweek.com/jennifer-lawrence-red-sparrow-rape-829511 |archive-date=2022-01-10 |url-status=live }}
The estimation reported by Russian publications was lower than the global average. According to Megacritic, the average score was 4.7 out of 10 based on more than 30 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.megacritic.ru/film/krasnyj-vorobej |title=Red Sparrow |publisher=Megacritic |access-date=2018-06-22 |language=ru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624063943/https://www.megacritic.ru/film/krasnyj-vorobej |archive-date=2018-06-24 |url-status=live }}
Accolades
=Historical accuracy=
According to The Daily Telegraph, "The espionage historian Nigel West — whose Historical Dictionary of Sexspionage (Scarecrow Press) was originally written as a handbook for the intelligence community — questions the existence of such training schools".{{cite news |title=Russia's queens of sexpionage: who were the real Red Sparrows? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/russias-queens-sexpionage-real-red-sparrows/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=March 2, 2018 |first=Jake |last=Kerridge |access-date=August 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816162139/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/russias-queens-sexpionage-real-red-sparrows/ |archive-date=August 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}
Proposed sequel
As of 2018, director Francis Lawrence has expressed interest in a sequel based on either Palace of Treason or The Kremlin's Candidate.{{cite news|title=Will there be a 'Red Sparrow' sequel? Here's what its director told us|work=Metro|date=March 1, 2018|first=Gregory|last=Wakeman|url=https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/will-there-be-a-red-sparrow-sequel-here-is-what-its-director-told-us/|access-date=May 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526190517/https://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/will-there-be-a-red-sparrow-sequel-here-is-what-its-director-told-us|archive-date=May 26, 2019|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{IMDb title|2873282}}
{{Francis Lawrence}}
Category:2010s spy thriller films
Category:20th Century Fox films
Category:American rape and revenge films
Category:American spy thriller films
Category:Chernin Entertainment films
Category:Films about the Central Intelligence Agency
Category:Films about the Russian Mafia
Category:Films based on American thriller novels
Category:Films directed by Francis Lawrence
Category:Films produced by Peter Chernin
Category:Films produced by Steven Zaillian
Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard
Category:Films set in Budapest
Category:Films set in Virginia
Category:Films shot in Budapest
Category:Films shot in Hungary
Category:Films shot in Slovakia
Category:Films with screenplays by Justin Haythe
Category:Girls with guns films
Category:Techno-thriller films
Category:TSG Entertainment films