Jack Strong (2014)

A Major Disappointment

A Disappointing Continuation

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

If you like nifty nail biters, this is your movie. It's as exciting as 007. But this is a true story. Apart from the suspense, which kept me on the edge of my chair for two hours, this film also superbly captures the grim atmosphere of the Soviet bloc in the seventies and the unpleasant bureaucracy (and unpleasant people) of the communist military. It's also a nice touch to set it in wintertime Warsaw. There is a totally surprising ending (even if it is a true story) the message of which seems to be that the American security establishment is every bit as ominous as its communist counterparts. I rated this a nine rather than ten only because I thought it was a little too long and because of the car chase at the end which was a needless Hollywood touch to a movie that does extremely well without Hollywood.The level of violence is not offensive although one suicide scene is perhaps a little more graphic than most of us would like. But if you enjoy spy pictures, you'll LOVE this one.

Excellent movie, based on a true story, a cold war spy thriller. Very well done and worth seeing. It's about a Polish army officer who spies for the CIA. It's a Polish movie, with subtitles. The Americans are played by American actors, so those parts are in English. His CIA handler is played by Patrick Wilson (Lou in the current season of Fargo). The actor who plays Jaruzelski you'd think was Jaruzelski. Some of the Polish dialogue goes by so fast it's difficult to read it all, so it's nice seeing it on TV so you can go back. I saw it on Netflix. The opening scene is horrible, I didn't watch. There's a bit of bad language, but not a lot.

There are so many spy thrillers out there, that screenplays and/or plots are becoming boring. Example Jack Ryan: Shadow recruit, nice story but too many bullets, and unrealistic sub-plots and scenes. It is more for entertainment purposes than to show how the spying is done in real world. Despite low budget of Jack Strong, all is done excellent. We are time traveling into 70's and 80's and all looks like it was in those dark days where Iron Curtain was dividing West from East. Plus very good acting by all, excellent directing and producing. What I really do like is that the roles of Russians are played by the Russian actors, American roles by the American actors and Polish roles are filled by the Polish actors. Something to learn by Hollywood In this concept it makes even much realistic. Nothing is overdone. Also important thing seen in this film is, how the spying is affecting families, co-workers, friendships. If you want to see the real spying world, you must see Jack Strong.

This was really fulfilling and so well acted that I was pulled in, and really found that I cared about these people of Poland, and this family. A man who is trusted by the highest ranking officials in Poland rises up the ranks in the army very quickly, and not in any small way also due to his exceptional skills at seeing the whole picture. All the while his country is simply a puppet, or chess piece that the greater Russian power likes to keep under a boot, and the people are reaching a point that they will not take it anymore. So a spy is born, and completely of his own free will, as he is not recruited but in fact goes out of his way to contact the US, and offer information which he refuses any money for. This is based on a true story, and so I am not giving too much away with all of that, I just think for most people you need to know what a real hero this man Ryszard Kuklinski was so that you understand the powerful story that is told here. This one man saved his people, and possibly all of us from Communistic rule, and total destruction of the free world we mostly have today. The story is told much like an episode of The Americans, with all of the tension, and slight of hand trickery to keep you on the edge of your seat, and the skill of the actors to portray these people desperate, and proud just shines. This movie is a history lesson, and a good one so I recommend it to any Drama lovers, but there is plenty of Suspense, and even some nice Action scenes to keep everyone happy.Jesse of www.Jesse.ca