Former field agent Emerson (John Cusack) is reassigned to a Numbers Station due to a botched field assignment and it is hoped that he will resolve his demons in this new assignment. His job at the station is to protect the station and Katherine (Malin Akerman) who is a civilian but also a very good cryptologist. All goes well until the station is attacked as the bad guys want to send false messages to agents who immediately act upon them. This could be disastrous.
We are told in the beginning that Numbers Stations do not exist and that governments deny their existence; however the codes can be still be heard worldwide. Cryptic messages are sent to agents in the field for their next assignments.
If all the above is true about Numbers Stations, this is a pretty good look into another aspect of intelligence work worldwide. The pacing is spot on and we see that the station itself was constructed like a bomb shelter and is very difficult to breech.
This doesn't have a lot of the action most thrillers have and no CGI; however, there is good suspense and tension throughout and you become engaged. John Cusack's Emerson character does a very good job selling the importance of a Numbers Station.
The only downside I saw was most of the movie is shot in the dark and in low light within the station. Otherwise the acting performances were very good. Also this movie seemed to incorporate a new technology for the sounds of gunfire. I jumped several times as the shots really boomed. Maybe you will jump too. HA ! (7/10)
Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Yes.
We are told in the beginning that Numbers Stations do not exist and that governments deny their existence; however the codes can be still be heard worldwide. Cryptic messages are sent to agents in the field for their next assignments.
If all the above is true about Numbers Stations, this is a pretty good look into another aspect of intelligence work worldwide. The pacing is spot on and we see that the station itself was constructed like a bomb shelter and is very difficult to breech.
This doesn't have a lot of the action most thrillers have and no CGI; however, there is good suspense and tension throughout and you become engaged. John Cusack's Emerson character does a very good job selling the importance of a Numbers Station.
The only downside I saw was most of the movie is shot in the dark and in low light within the station. Otherwise the acting performances were very good. Also this movie seemed to incorporate a new technology for the sounds of gunfire. I jumped several times as the shots really boomed. Maybe you will jump too. HA ! (7/10)
Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Yes.