ALL THE OLD KNIVES

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and Prime from director Janus Metz and Amazon Prime Video is mystery, intrigue with ALL THE OLD KNIVES.

Henry Pelham (Chris Pine) and lover Celia Harrison (Thandiwe Newton) work at the same CIA office in Vienna. Working on a case because of the hijacking of a Royal Jordanian flight, it comes to a disastrous end that effects many of the staff. Henry could have never expected that Celia would be one of them as she leaves Vienna and the agency.

Many years later, Henry is called in by superior Vick Wallinger (Laurence Fishburne) who wants to close the chapter on the case. Going back to the beginning, Henry begins to question everyone involved that is still alive. One of those being Celia’s former supervisor Bill Compton (Jonathan Pryce).

That leads him to a very secluded winery near the sea to meet with Celia. After so many years apart, there is much to talk about and not all of it has to do with the case. The conversation begins with pleasantries quickly turning to their mysterious break up moving even quicker on to what she remembers.

Celia tells her part of the story with Henry mixing in what he remembers, who they talked to and what everyone did leading up to the disaster. But both have underlying secrets they are keeping back from one another that could have solve not only the mystery of the hijacking but their relationship.

Walking the fine line is truth and trust.

Pine as Pelham is an agent who has spent year wondering what happened between Henry and Celia. Also, like everyone else in the Vienna office, there are unanswered questions, especially since it is rumored that there was a leak from inside the office. Watching Pine unravel the mystery is complex and very intense to watch.

Newton as Harrison is a woman who has tried to change her life since the events in Vienna. Seeing Henry is a chance to talk about what happened, and once the answers are on the table the why of it all is not far behind. Newton gives us a woman who loved the life she had but loves the life she has now and being a part of the CIA is no longer something she wants.

Price as Compton does not understand why Henry thinks he had anything to do with being the insider. Trying to make him understand, Price is a character that is straight forward and loyal to Celia. Fishburne as Wallinger has a smaller role but is present in the story from the time of the hijacking until the final scene.

Other cast include Corey Johnson as Karl Stein, Colin Stinton as Moscow Staff Chief, Ahd Kamel as Laila Maroof, David Bedella as Drew Favreau, Jonjo O’Neill as Ernst Pul, David Dawson as Owen Lassiter, Nasser Memarzia as Mohammed Dudayev, Michael Shaeffer as Treble, Alexander Devrient as Qamar Ayad, Derek Siow as Gene Wilcox and Orli Shuka as Ilyas Shushani.

Amazon Prime offers television shows and original content included in its Amazon Prime subscription. Original programs such as CARNIVAL ROW, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL are hit shows. Coming soon is the next series with GOLIATH starring Billy Bob Thornton and it promises to another successful and intense series. For more information, please visit www.amazon.com/Amazon-Video.

ALL THE OLD KNIVES is a thriller wrapped in politics, intrigue, operations, and relationships. Flashing back and forth in the story between a long wine-dinner between Henry and Celia talking about their relationship and the same time period as both agents were trying to get information with their contacts.

It is actually the first time both have had the chance to compare notes and that is when things begin to get interesting. Every moment a twist is thrown in as the room gets smaller and smaller make it impossible for the answer to escape.

In the end – who do you trust?