CHIEF OF STATION

US, 2024, 97 minutes, Colour.

Aaron Eckhart, Olga Kurylenko, Alex Pettyfer, Chris Petrovski, Nick Maureen, Daniel Bernhardt, James Faulkner.

Directed by Jesse V. Johnson.

Chief of Station is an easily enjoyable espionage thriller, 21^st-century style. He has quite some exotic settings, especially in Hungary as well as Croatia and, of course, in Washington DC.

In more recent years, Aaron Eckhart has been acting in films like this, for instance, The Bricklayer. And he has a reliable supporting cast including Olga Kurylenko and Alex Pettyfer.

A great deal of intrigue, a marriage, seeming betrayal, and assassination, from Russia, Eastern Europe, and the threat to the hero’s son.

And, some twists, and an exposure of a friend as a villain.

Seen many times but, of course, easily enjoyable.

1. 21^st-century espionage, the CIA, Eastern Europe? Clashes between East and West? Russian intervention?
2. The locations, the atmosphere of Budapest, Hungary, Washington DC? The musical score?
3. The credibility of the plot, espionage and international plots, greed, betrayal is?
4. Ben Malloy, his experience, his status in Eastern Europe, CIA? The relationship with his wife, the wedding anniversary, the dinner, the bomb, her death? The relationship with his wife, her work, not communicating details with her husband?
5. The return to Washington, the deputy chief and relationships with him? His work, information about his wife and her death?
6. The return to Hungary, work with his colleagues, John Branko as a longtime friend?
7. His son, IT expert, his relationship, living in Croatia, the plan for the meeting in Paris, his being abducted?
8. Evgeny, the clashes in the past, tongue in cheek friendship and collaboration? The thugs? The fights? Information about his wife? The attack on Malloy, Evgeny, the assassins?
9. John Branko, saving Malloy, the boat, the truth, torture, abduction of his son?
10. The role of Christine, a character, information, working with his wife? Interventions, helping?
11. The laptop, the information, the bribes, Malloy’s wife having the information about Branko and the official? The deputy director?
12. Nick, the kidnapping, the trade?
13. The buildup to the confrontation, and the expose?