All the Old Knives Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Ex-lovers meet for a fancy dinner to awkwardly rehash a terrorist incident, and someone brought the wrong bottle of wine… literally.

🍿 All the Old Knives: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Hijacking and its Aftermath

The film opens with the harrowing event of Turkish Alliance Flight 127 being hijacked in Vienna in 2012. The CIA’s Vienna station, including agents Henry Pelham and Celia Harrison, scramble to respond, but the situation ends in tragedy with all lives lost. The event casts a long shadow over the team and especially impacts Henry and Celia’s relationship.

Reopening the Case

Eight years later, in 2020, the CIA reopens the case. Suspicions arise that a mole within the Vienna station aided the terrorists. Henry is tasked by his supervisor, Vick Wallinger, to investigate and interview former colleagues, including Celia, who abruptly left the agency after the hijacking. This sets the stage for a tense reunion and a journey into the past.

The Dinner in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Henry meets Celia, now living a quiet life in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Their dinner becomes a complex interrogation, with flashbacks revealing their past romance and the events surrounding the hijacking. They dissect the details, each questioning the other’s version of events, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and unease. The setting is picturesque, but the undercurrent is fraught with tension.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Henry Pelham (Chris Pine): A veteran CIA agent tasked with uncovering a mole within the agency, who is forced to confront his past and his former lover.
• Celia Harrison (Thandiwe Newton): A former CIA agent and Henry’s ex-lover, who holds secrets about a past hijacking and her reasons for leaving the agency.
• Vick Wallinger (Laurence Fishburne): Henry’s supervisor at the CIA who reopens the case of the Flight 127 hijacking and tasks Henry with finding the mole.
• Bill Compton (Jonathan Pryce): A former supervisor and mentor at the Vienna CIA station, whose past connections and actions come under scrutiny during the investigation.
• Ilyas Shushani (Orli Shuka): A former informant of Henry’s who masterminded the Flight 127 hijacking and lured Henry to betray everyone.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Celia Harrison: “It’s not for the faint of heart.” – Celia says this when discussing having children.
• Henry Pelham: “I did what I had to do to protect you.” – Henry explains his betrayal to Celia, claiming he did it to save her life.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $16,000,000
• Domestic Gross: None
• Worldwide Gross: None

💥 All the Old Knives Reviews

Personal Review

I really wanted to love this movie. Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton are amazing, and the setting in Carmel is gorgeous, but it felt…slow. The constant flashbacks made it hard to keep track of who was who and what was happening. The restaurant scene was intense, but the ending felt rushed. Overall, it was just okay. I’m a bit disappointed, to be honest. The scene where Celia confronts Henry with the phone call was gripping. Newton’s performance during that moment was chilling. That said, the build-up of this particular scene took way too long!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of spy thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy character-driven stories”
  • “Those interested in Cold War-style espionage”
  • “Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Some sexuality/nudity”
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Brief strong language”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While boasting strong performances from Pine and Newton, ‘All the Old Knives’ suffers from a convoluted plot and a pace that struggles to maintain suspense.
• IMDB: “This spy thriller prioritizes conversation over action, resulting in a slow burn that demands patience. The performances are solid, but the shifting timelines can be disorienting. If you enjoy character-driven espionage, you might find it worthwhile.

Audience Reactions

Pine and Newton’s performances were phenomenal, showcasing great chemistry.: The acting was universally praised, particularly the leads’ intense and nuanced portrayals.

The plot’s twists and turns kept viewers guessing until the very end.: Many found the story intricate and engaging, but some felt it was overly complex.

Overall Consensus: A slow-burning spy thriller with strong performances, but hindered by a convoluted plot and pacing issues, ultimately dividing audiences and critics.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The restaurant scene was filmed on a soundstage in London using an LED backdrop to simulate the ocean view of Carmel-by-the-Sea.”
• “The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Olen Steinhauer, who also wrote the screenplay.”
• “Chris Pine’s character driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway over Bixby Creek Bridge would take him in the opposite direction of Carmel-by-the-Sea.”

🖥️ How to Watch All the Old Knives?

All the Old Knives is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Check your local listings for rental or purchase options on platforms like Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Availability may vary by region, so confirm before you settle in for your viewing.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed All the Old Knives, you might like these similar films:

• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Similar Cold War-style espionage with a focus on identifying a mole within British Intelligence.
• The Conversation (1974): Explores themes of paranoia, surveillance, and the moral dilemmas faced by those involved in espionage.
• Munich (2005): Deals with the complex moral implications of political violence and retribution.
• Red Sparrow (2018): A modern spy thriller with a focus on psychological manipulation and betrayal.

🛒 All the Old Knives Related Products

• All the Old Knives: A Novel: Dive deeper into the intricate world of espionage with the original novel by Olen Steinhauer. Experience the suspense and intrigue in its purest form.
• Espionage Board Game: Engage in a strategic battle of wits with this espionage-themed board game. Perfect for fans of spy thrillers who enjoy tactical gameplay.
• Vintage Spy Film Collection [Blu-ray]: A curated collection of classic spy films that inspired ‘All the Old Knives’. Experience the golden age of espionage thrillers.
• Chris Pine Autographed Photo: A must-have for fans of Chris Pine! This autographed photo captures his role in ‘All the Old Knives’. A perfect addition to any collection.

🎧 Soundtrack

All the Old Knives features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Lovesong” – performed by Amanda Bergman
• “Main Theme” – performed by Original Composition by Henry Jackman and Sakamoto

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Chris Pine Had an Intimacy Teacher

Ever wondered how they film those intense scenes? Chris Pine talks about working with an intimacy coordinator for ‘All the Old Knives’ and it sounds like a wild experience! Honestly, I never thought about that kind of job existing but it seems super important!

✨ Rate