'A Most Wanted Man' features a fully rounded performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman
Hoffman stars as a German spymaster in one of his final films.
Hoffman stars as a German spymaster in one of his final films.
It鈥檚 impossible to watch 鈥淎 Most Wanted Man,鈥� Anton Corbijn鈥檚 methodical version of the 2008 John le Carr茅 bestseller, without realizing that, except for an appearance in the upcoming 鈥淗unger Games鈥� sequel, this is Philip Seymour Hoffman鈥檚 final film. He plays the German spymaster G眉nther Bachmann, a heavy-drinking chain smoker whose painstaking attempts to root out an illicit Muslim terrorist ring are stymied by other agencies slavering to swoop in and score.
Hoffman, bloated and flushed, does not look well in this film. But he is such a consummate actor that whatever infirmities he may have been fighting become a part of his performance. His portrayal, complete with a convincing German accent, is a fully rounded portrait of courage and dissolution. Grade: B (Rated R for language.)