Did ‘The Amateur’ Steal a Stunt From a Forgotten Jason Statham Movie?

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In “The Amateur,” although it’s fresh to theaters, some viewers might sense a touch of déjà vu. This film features Rami Malek as a CIA agent on a mission for vengeance following his wife’s demise, with Laurence Fishburne portraying Malek’s guide. The plotline could strike a chord of familiarity, as it adapts a book that was published in the early 1980s. Yet, there are other elements within “The Amateur” that may stir memories as well.

In simpler terms, the main issue with “The Amateur” appears to be its familiarity as a standard thriller. Some spectators and critics have pointed out this repetitiveness, labeling the storyline as “foreseeable.” It seems that even the action scenes lack originality and excitement, as one climactic scene in the movie resembles an old Jason Statham action-thriller that has been forgotten over time.

‘The Amateur’ Pool Scene Resembles ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’

One significant scene showcased in promotional materials for the film “The Amateur” features Rami Malek’s character, Charlie, confronting a suspect believed to be responsible for his wife’s demise, Mishka Blazhic. This encounter takes place at Mishka’s hotel, where he is swimming in a glass pool suspended between two buildings. As the interrogation progresses and Mishka refuses to cooperate, Charlie discloses that he placed an explosive device at the pool’s base. Upon Charlie’s command, the device detonates, causing the glass to shatter and sending Mishka plummeting from a great height.

It’s quite logical that numerous trailers would choose this climactic scene as their grand finale. It doesn’t give away the entire movie, but it definitely piques curiosity. However, for those well-versed in Jason Statham’s filmography, it could be less surprising due to its striking similarity to a scene in one of his less remembered sequels.

In the 2016 movie “Mechanic: Resurrection”, Statham portrays Arthur Bishop, a masterful assassin known for making his kills appear as accidents. He’s tasked with eliminating Adrian Cook, a wealthy individual who amassed fortune through human trafficking. Arthur infiltrates Adrian’s penthouse, where Adrian is swimming leisurely in a glass pool suspended from the building. Arthur climbs the towering structure and strategically positions some chemicals on the bottom of the pool. As these substances react, they cause the glass to shatter, resulting in Adrian’s unfortunate demise as he falls from the height.

The two scenes share some minor variations. For instance, in “The Amateur,” it is Charlie who initially speaks with Mishka, whereas in “Mechanic: Resurrection,” it’s the other way around. Moreover, the scene from “The Amateur” portrays Charlie killing Mishka under a cover of darkness, while the counterpart in “Mechanic: Resurrection” is more overt. Despite these differences, the fundamental plotlines are strikingly similar, leading to speculation as to whether this resemblance was intentional or perhaps a nod to “Mechanic: Resurrection.” It’s also possible that the writers of “The Amateur” may not have been consciously imitating the scene from “Mechanic: Resurrection,” but instead, it could be a coincidence or an homage. Here’s hoping they didn’t unintentionally plagiarize the idea, as viewers might not recall the specific scene from “Mechanic: Resurrection.

‘The Amateur’ Is Just Too Generic

It’s worth noting that while it’s unclear if the film The Amateur directly stole the pool scene from Mechanic: Resurrection, it remains an issue that a crucial scene bears a strong resemblance to another movie. In fact, much of The Amateur seems reminiscent, as though scenes were borrowed from other films, subtly altered, and combined to form the final product.

In simpler terms, “The Amateur” often seems like an ordinary thriller, lacking distinctive features in its plot, filming style, or action sequences. The opening event – Charlie learning about his wife’s death – is predictable, as it’s a common trope in revenge thrillers. However, more recent revenge thrillers such as “Upgrade” introduce an intriguing element to their stories by incorporating technology, where the main character receives an implant that assists him in seeking vengeance for his wife’s death. Unfortunately, Charlie is just a regular CIA operative trying to discover who murdered his wife.

Despite the fact that “The Amateur” is adapted from a book written over four decades ago, it’s understandable that some elements may still feel fresh and new. However, this shouldn’t be used as an excuse for the lackluster production of the 2025 version of “The Amateur”. With numerous films being released every week, both in theaters and on streaming platforms, each one needs to provide a compelling reason for audiences to watch it. Given the abundance of high-quality thrillers that are continuously being produced, “The Amateur” unfortunately fails to stand out. Instead, it seems as if the film was merely an attempt by the studio to attach a few popular actors to a script in order to release a movie during a slow period of the year.

Where To Watch ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’ and ‘The Amateur’

Despite not being as well-received as other films featuring Jason Statham, “The Mechanic: Resurrection” might find a new audience now that it’s available for streaming on Max. For those without a subscription, the movie can also be rented or purchased digitally from platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and FandangoNow.

Right now, “The Amateur” isn’t accessible through streaming platforms because it was recently premiered in cinemas. However, it should be available for purchase from digital retailers within a couple of weeks. Typically, films distributed by 20th Century Studios can be found streaming on Hulu and Disney+ a few months after their theatrical release.

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2025-04-19 03:02