Very loosely based on the spy who stole the plans for the atom bomb from her job as a secretary to give to Russia in 1945, the film Red Joan arrives on the big screen. The film is publicized as based on a true story and IMDb has it listed as a biography. But, as filmmakers will do, from time to time, the movie gets produced as a love story for the ages with an excuse for what the real spy did to change history. Using Judi Dench as the spy Joan Stanley (aka Melita Norwood) and Sophie Cookson as the young Joan Smith (aka Joan Stanley) the love story over shadows the heinous act of Norwood on an ending of practically making her a hero.
The film opens with Joan Stanley (Judi Dench) getting arrested in modern day by the British Police on the charge of espionage. During her interrogation the move flashes back at her life in the late 1930’s when she (Sophie Cookson) attended Cambridge University in England. There she meets a young German/Russian Communist Sonya Galich (Tereza Srbova) who introduces her to her brother Leo (Tom Hughes). Having led a sheltered life Joan quickly becomes enamored by the Communist Party promoter and although cautious, she buys in on his ideology.
Years later in 1941 Brittan has entered WWII to fight the Germans and have set up labs to develop an atom bomb. Under the name of Joan Smith she takes a position with a secret service branch of the British Government as personal assistant to Professor Max Davis (Stephen Campbell Moore). With her knowledge of physics she helps Davis work out a formula to develop Uranium (U235) into an explosive greater than any weapon known to man.
So begins a story of romance, intrigue, spying, treachery and treason as Joan takes a misguided cue that what she believes will equalize the strength of nations and force peace in the world. Director Treavor Nunn puts his cast through their paces using a script based on screenwriter’s interpretation of the novel written by Jennie Rooney that was inspired by the life of Melita Norwood- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Joan.
While the story is 180 degrees from the real life Melita Norwood, Nunn contrives a love story that does compel and intrigue, yet only mildly entertains. If the filmmakers had taken the novel and not set the audience up for a “biography” of the real spy who handed over the formulas and schematics for the Atomic Bomb, it could have been a winner. The white washing sappy ending “Oh but I did it to keep peace in the world” just doesn’t make it right. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melita_Norwood,
To mention the acting, which has its usual brilliance, would be an afterthought to the film. But Dame Judi Dench does deserve kudos for her performance as 90 year old Joan Stanley. Her interesting script guided acting brings her character to the finale of admitting her guilt after hiding it till 2005 some 60 years after her dishonorable deed. Delivering a heartfelt woman who was jilted, lovelorn and an adulterer’s lover is what the audience can take away from the film.
As for Sophie Cookson, who carries the whole film as the young spy, it’s a very different role than her very exciting turn as Roxy in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. That said, she does fill the screen nicely as the late blooming love maker who falls for the impetuous leader of the Communist International Movement. She follows the script with compulsion able to make Joan Smith a meaningful disillusioned person.
Red Joan has been rated R by the MPAA for brief sexuality/nudity. Giving the film a happy ending seems way out of whack for what the woman did. Also, it should have never taken that long to find her in either that or this day of age.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Credibility and homage make the film weak and insubstantial. (1 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tom Hughes, Laurence Spellman, Tereza Srbova, Ben Miles, Robin Soans, Kevin Fuller
Stephen Boxer, Claran Owens,
Directed by: Treavor Nunn
Novel by: Jennie Rooney
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
MPAA Rating: R for brief sexuality/nudity
Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.
Opening Date: May 3, 2019
Distributed by: IFC Films
Released in: Standard
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
