“All the Old Knives” is an adaptation of Olen Steinhauer’s spy thriller by the same name.
This film stars Chris Pine, Thandiwe Newton, Laurence Fishburne and Jonathan Pryce.
Before dying, a terrorist leader implicates a mole within the CIA that helped him carryout a 2012 plane hijacking that killed all the souls onboard.
A field agent that climbed the ranks since that day is tasked with finding the mole and killing them.
This is a smart, sexy spy thriller full of masterful intrigue, an engaging score, picturesque cinematography with a backdrop of the idyllic restaurant “Carmel By the Sea” in Monterey, California.
So spy thrillers are talkies. This film is no exception, offering witty dialogue in which every conversation is layered with evidence that weave the investigation into a stunning conclusion.
The story unfolds with flashes forward, backward and in Present Day that interconnect the suspects based on their questionable activities during the hijacking.
To explain the ending, it’s imperative to set up the First Act. The First Act is fraught with purposeful keys and set pieces that help solve the mystery.
THE SETUP:
Black screen with voiceover from news reporters ominously describing the terrorist hijacking of Flight 127. Then we see the passengers of this flight — a flight attendant being shot and dragged down the aisle, kids screaming from their seats.
Pilots are hostages in the cockpit.
Vick’s team is watching footage.
Chris Pine plays Henry Pelham, a seasoned field agent climbing the ranks.
Thandiwe Newton plays Celia Harris, a whip smart intelligence officer.
Jonathan Pryce plays Bill Compton, a veteran counting down the days til retirement. He’s also Celia’s mentor, prepping her for his desk.
They’re all CIA spies on Vick’s team working out of the Vienna satellite station.
On hijacking day, Vick notices Henry coming from another area of the office. It looks suspicious. He should be in here with the rest of the team getting briefed. Where’s he been?
After watching footage, Celia abruptly leaves. Babies were killed. A pregnant woman was onboard. Celia can’t do this anymore.
Eight years later, Vick’s sitting on the edge of his bed depressed. Is it still weighing on his conscience? We’ll soon find out.
Vick meets with Henry. He tells him that Langley reopened the Flight 127 hijacking.
Henry says they’ve been blaming themselves all these years. This case doesn’t need to be reopened.
Vick tells Henry that they caught Ilyas, the terrorist leader in Afghanistan, the mastermind behind the attack and that he revealed that there was a mole in the CIA that helped carry out this hijacking. Vick claims Ilyas didn’t reveal who the mole was.
It’s important to note that Henry wants to take point on this case. Ilyas was his informant for years.
Henry, with a blanketed face, asks Vick if Ilyas revealed who the mole is.
Vick says no — he died before they could threaten it out of him.
Henry claims he can get the truth.
Vick tasks Henry with closing this chapter once and for all; finding the mole.
Will you do what needs to be done? Vick asks Henry with all the poker face training they teach you at Langley. The CIA mole must die.
Flashback 8 years earlier — when Celia up and quit. Henry runs out the building after her, but she’s gone. She didn’t just quit. She eventually leaves town to start a new life. Without Henry.
Back to current-day. Vick gives Henry a folder with incriminating evidence. A call log. It looks like it’s made the rounds. A number is highlighted. This is key info. Henry must build a case around this one number and find the mole.
Wait, that’s Bill Compton’s desk phone number. Was Bill Compton involved? Vick says Bill wasn’t the only one using that line that day.
Does Vick remember that day when Henry was coming from the direction of Bill’s office — instead of being in the briefing room with the rest of the team? It’s been 8 years. He may not remember. Or he may. He’s the chief of this station. He’s climbed these ranks because he’s good. Is Vick playing Henry? It’s hard to tell. These CIA spies maintain their poker face and never show their hand.
Then we flash to Henry and Celia in bed. They were lovers.
Back to current-day. Vick eludes it may be Celia. Is he trapping Henry? He asks Henry if he’s still carrying the torch for her.
Nope, Henry tells him she’s married with kids now. He hasn’t spoken to her since she left. But how does she know her life? Well, he’s a spy.
Vick offers to send someone else.
But Henry affirms that he’s the only one who’ll know if she’s lying when interrogated.
Henry wants more than just to see Celia. He still holds the torch for her.
Henry says he’ll start with Bill first and then go to Cali to interrogate Celia. Then he’s off.
Henry is driving along the Pacific Coast. He’s in Cali.
Celia gets a call, we don’t know from whom yet.
She’s at her daughter’s ballet class, grocery shopping, running errands, living her life as normal as possible. But when you look closer, there are men planted, following her. Why? Are they protection? Does she fear for her life? Does she have a burn notice? We learn later.
Henry arrives at “Carmel by the Sea” which should be booming at this time, but it’s questionably empty.
He calls his trusted hitman. Henry instructs his hitman that he’s only to kill Celia, the target, when he gives the okay. Henry distinctly says, he may not need the hit.
Henry’s at this restaurant first.
That’s important. Celia purposely arrives late. And Henry knows exactly when she arrives, even before he sees her. These spy senses don’t die.
They sit and reminisce. We flashback to their past life as lovers, climbing the ranks as low level spies. She even jokes about poisoning him.
Henry admits why he’s there. Vick has me looking into Flight 127. She wants to hear it from him, so she asks, knowing the answer: so this is an interview.
Henry’s already met with suspect Bill Compton in London where he’s retired. Henry tries to pin this on Bill. But Bill pushes back. So Henry’s gotta go interview his old flame Celia.
The Ending:
During the course of this day, Henry & Celia reminisce and interrogate each other, recalling that dreadful day 8 years ago.
As night wears on, Celia reveals why she abruptly left. She saw a call come in to Henry’s cellphone that matched the call log. Ilyas’ number.
She calls him out for trying to pin this on Bill.
She reveals that this trap was set for him, not her. The empty restaurant, the couple there, the wait staff, everyone there, except Henry and his hitman, are CIA operatives there to kill the mole. Henry.
Henry starts to fill the poison from the wine coursing through his organs. He’ll kiln over any second.
But first he must confess. He did this to protect Celia. The terrorist leader was threatening to kill Celia if Henry didn’t cooperate. Henry was willing to pin this leak on old Bill to avoid killing Celia. He still loves her. After all these years.
He sacrificed all those souls onboard that aircraft to save Celia’s life.
Celia feels remorse, but it’s too late.
Chief Vick, he knew. He and his team are raiding Henry’s house right now, confiscating boxes and collecting evidence.
Vick planned out this whole day, these two weeks while Henry was away on his goose chase.
Celia admits that Ilyas implicated Henry before he died.
So Vick lied to him. Vick just needed him out of town. Henry got played.
Celia says, we’re gunna say this was a suicide.
Henry explains why he did it. They had you in their crosshairs, Celia.
Henry’s cellphone is on the table. Hitman’s calling. He needs a yes or no on the hit. He’s got the shot.
Henry’s head slams on the table.
He tries to utter words to his hitman. Is he trying to say yea or nay?
Henry takes his last gasp of life.
Celia’s tormented as she leaves the restaurant, passing all the operatives as she cries out the door.
Hitman says he’s got a clean shot. All he needs is the ‘okay.’
She walks home. She hugs her kids and thankful her husband waited up for her to get home. She knows she’s safe. She’s surrounded by the best CIA operatives. It’s over.
Vick’s job is done.
Celia’s job is done.
The team can put this all behind them.
The End.
All the Old Knives was directed by Janus Metz Pederson. It was written and adapted by Olen Steinhauer. This film is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. All rights reserved.
