Classified stars Aaron Eckhart as the lone wolf spy Evan Shaw, whom we learn virtually nothing about throughout the hour and 45-minute runtime of this disappointing new thriller. He’s joined by former child star Abigail Breslin, who plays his long-lost daughter turned MI6 analyst, Kacey. Written by Roel Reiné and directed by Bob DeRosa, Classified will not be remembered as one of the best spy movies of the 2020s and will likely fly under the radar for most audiences. Though competently shot, the storytelling and performances leave much to be desired.

Director Roel Reine Writers Bob DeRosa Cast Aaron Eckhart , Tim Roth , Abigail Breslin , Matt Hookings , Kim DeLonghi , Myles Clohessy , Baylee Toney , Joe Azzopardi

The film’s conceit revolves around Evan’s discovery that he hasn’t been assassinating people for the CIA, as he believed, but an independent company using him for monetary gain. This is made even worse because Evan believes himself to be close to Kevin (Tim Roth), his employer. Unfortunately, it takes an excruciatingly long time for the movie to finally get to the inciting incident. Once he and Kacey are finally on the same page, the movie devolves into an extended chase scene. If Classified intended to provide commentary on the ethics and implications of espionage, it slips through the cracks.

Classified Exercises Its Budget In All The Wrong Places
Classified Prioritizes Style Over Substance

Filmed on location in Malta and incorporating many interesting practical sets and effects, Classified should look better than it does. It’s always exciting when a thriller incorporates international locations and sprawling set pieces, but it makes me question why this is where the budget went. Classified spends all of its money and runtime on the spectacle of the piece, leaving the characters and story out in the cold. There’s the beginning of a good idea hidden within the script, but it’s squandered on heavy-handed attempts to make the plot twists land better than they do.

It doesn’t help that Breslin and Eckhart perform every scene as if they’ve just been introduced. They deliver their dialogue like they’ve skimmed the script just moments ago. Surprisingly, Eckhart and Breslin worked together many years ago on the 2007 rom-com No Reservations, though this chemistry did not hold over. So far, Eckhart’s career transition into the action genre has been a far cry from his early work in projects like The Dark Knight or Erin Brockovich​​​​​​. However, there’s no question he holds his own well in the action and stunt scenes.

He seems virtually unaffected by the revelations that he’s been being played by his employer and has no idea about the existence of his daughter.

Classified uses the tired genre trope of Evan being haunted by his past lover, Monica (Marysia S. Peres), who he eventually abandoned to focus on his career with the CIA. This is a story tool that is over-used and never effective, shunting the role of women in the film to one of ancillary or no importance. Their backstory is another piece of exposition that somehow tells us too much without saying anything, failing to provide efficient context. Evan, Kacey, and Kevin are the only characters with desires and motivations, and even these are fuzzy.

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Both Evan and Kacey are underwritten characters, but Kacey gets the opportunity to show a little personality and has a decently emotional moment near the film’s climax. However, Evan is so ice-cold and disinterested that he comes off as purely apathetic instead of committed to the job. Additionally, the fact that he blithely accepted missions and never thought about his actions does nothing to build sympathy for him. He seems virtually unaffected by the revelations that he’s been played by his employer and has no idea about the existence of his daughter.

Independent Action Movies Are Important, But Classified Doesn’t Help Their Case
Classified’s Underwhelming Execution Shouldn’t Hinder The Future Of Independent Thrillers

It’s frustrating when a low to mid-budget action film like Classified misses the mark, as it makes it more difficult for other similarly funded projects to get off the ground. Of course, it isn’t fair to compare Classified to a blockbuster franchise like Mission: Impossible or the Bourne movies. However, by trying and failing to emulate these projects that it ultimately cannot compete with, it squanders what potential there is for success. Scaling back the scope of the project could have helped Classified slow down and dissect the story’s structure.

Within its niche of the genre, there are far better and more compelling movies to watch than Classified. It’s not expected or necessary for an action thriller to be overly emotional or provide an intricately complex character arc, but that doesn’t mean there can be no emotional beats or development. Classified doesn’t have any groundbreaking fight choreography or dazzling action sequences to make up for the fact that there’s nothing beneath the surface, and the surface isn’t even that attractive.

Classified is now available to buy or rent on digital. The film is 105 minutes long and rated R for violence and language.

3/10 Operating alone in the field for more than 20 years, a CIA hitman (Aaron Eckhart) uses the “Help Wanted” section of the newspapers to get his orders from the Agency. His long-lost daughter (Abigail Breslin), now a UK MI6 analyst, tracks him down to deliver shocking news: his CIA boss (Tim Roth) has been dead for years and the division long since shut down. Together, they set out to discover whose orders he’s been executing.