A Most Wanted Man (2014)
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A grizzled intelligence officer leads a covert team to navigate a web of international terrorism, money laundering, and political intrigue.
The story
Issa Karpov, a political refugee from Chechnya who has been tortured by Russian security forces, illegally enters Hamburg, Germany. Günther Bachmann leads a covert German government team seeking to recruit local informants with ties to Islamic terrorist organizations. The team learns of Karpov's presence and his suspected links to Chechen terrorists. Bachmann's team is also tracking a respected Muslim philanthropist, Dr. Abdullah, whom they suspect is funneling funds to al-Qaeda. As high-ranking officials take an interest in the investigation, Bachmann seeks to turn informants higher up the chain while protecting the innocent caught in the nefarious affairs of others.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Issa Karpov, a Chechen refugee, enters Hamburg and seeks help from an immigration lawyer, Annabel Richter, to access a multi-million-euro account held by a wealthy banker, Tommy Brue. The account was originally linked to money laundering by the Russian mafia. Bachmann's team turns Brue and Richter to their cause, convincing Richter to have Karpov donate the funds to Dr. Abdullah's organization. The goal is to use this as proof of guilt to turn Abdullah and ensnare higher-level terrorist leaders. The plan is approved by the interior minister and supported by American diplomatic attaché Sullivan. During the fund transfer, Abdullah routes the money to a shipping company acting as a front for al-Qaeda. Bachmann, posing as a taxi driver, attempts to turn Abdullah without disrupting his life. However, he is ambushed by agents reporting to official Mohr and Sullivan, who seize Abdullah and Karpov. Bachmann is left furious and defeated as his team watches in shock.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States; Germany
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Anton Corbijn
- Writers
- Andrew Bovell · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Philip Seymour Hoffman · Günther Bachmann; Rachel McAdams · Annabel Richter; Willem Dafoe · Tommy Brue; Robin Wright · Martha Sullivan; Grigoriy Dobrygin · Issa Karpov; Homayoun Ershadi · Dr. Faisal Abdullah; Daniel Brühl · Max; Nina Hoss · Irna Frey
- Genres
- espionage thriller; crime drama; crime thriller; independent
- Themes
- terrorism; espionage; money laundering; refugee status
- Tone and mood
- smart; subtle; absorbing; grizzled
- Premise and plot tags
- spy thriller; political thriller; crime drama; illegal immigration
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2008 novel by John le Carré
- Reception
- The film received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance and describing it as a smart, subtle, and absorbing thriller.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 86%
- Production trivia
- Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance was his last leading role before his death in February 2014.; The film earned US$36,233,517 worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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