A Warfarer and an Amateur (CREDIT: A24; 20th Century Studios/Screenshot)

Warfare

Starring: Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Adain Bradley, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, Henry Zaga, Alex Brockdorff, Nathan Altai, Donya Hussen, Aaron Deakins

Directors: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland

Running Time: 95 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: April 11, 2025 (Theaters)

The Amateur

Starring: Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Danny Sapani, Jon Bernthal, Adrian Martinez, Marc Rissmann, Joseph Millson, Barbara Probst, Alice Hewkin, Henry Garrett, Takehiro Hira

Director: James Hawes

Running Time: 124 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: April 11, 2025 (Theaters)

Perhaps it was fate that Warfare and The Amateur would have the same release date, and that I would see them on consecutive days, considering that they portray two of my least favorite activities: state-sponsored combat and getting revenge. These movies didn’t do anything to make me feel differently (not that they were trying to!), so there was plenty of unpleasantness to sit through. But instead of wading through that discomfort, I’ll just highlight something that brought me pleasure from each flick:
-The whole platoon watching the “Call on Me” music video!
-Charlie (Rami Malek) and Hendo (Larry Fishburne) ending on a note of hard-fought bonhomie.

Grades:
Warfare: IEDs Are Terrifying
The Amateur: 1.5 Bugs out of 2.5 Black Ops