NUMBERS STATION [Blu-ray]

An action movie without exaggerated bombast or self-congratulatory violence, this spy genre movie still delivers great tension with a simple storyline and interesting characters. While the violence is not particularly gratuitous, it is, at several points in the film, brutal and hard to watch, but the brutality isn't aimed at violence-porn, but to shake the audience awake and let them know that we are deep in the middle of a grim world with dark realities.John Cusack (Emerson) is a government assassin who suddenly comes up against his conscience. For his failure, he's posted to a dead-end, baby-sitting job in a remote outpost, watching over a valuable government asset, brilliant young code broadcaster, Malin Akerman (Katherine).After a long weekend, both arrive back at work only to find the pair from the previous shift have been killed and the men who did it, still in the building. But without any idea what's going on or why, Emerson and Katherine have to survive long enough to be rescued and figure out how to convince their own side not to kill them for knowing too much.If you like watching mysteries unravel and a slow burn with intense bursts of action thrown in, you won't be disappointed. This film is tightly paced and very well well acted, but was not received well during it's theater release. There are a few plotholes to overlook, but if you can get past the fact that this isn't Shakespeare in the round, you should do fine. Personally, I loved it and would have gladly watched a sequel if they had one.

One of the best spy movies and one of my favorites.The presumption of The Numbers Station is that the Intelligence Black Ops system is fundamentally wrong. Numbers Station explores this premise of the (im)morality of intelligence work more thoroughly than movies such as “Three Days of The Condor,” or “The Bourne Identity” (good movies), both of which depict the organization as suffering from a few “bad apples.”It is a movie without humor, but a breathtakingly honest one. The movie’s feel and the treatment of its theme stands very much in contrast to Cusack’s earlier movie, “Grosse Point Blank,” a humorous, satirical flick about contract killers. Cusack has changed his tune since GPB, and is saying in Numbers Station that there is nothing funny about this kind of work. Kudos to John.SPOILER ALERT:Cusack is brilliant as an emotionally dead agent, Emerson Kent, whose conscience unexpectedly surfaces when he murders an ex-agent who tries to leave the assassination program— and as a result of doing this is placed in a situation where protocol demands that he murder a young girl who is a witness. He cannot follow through on killing the girl (his partner does it), and the agency punishes him by reassigning him to a numbers station. At the station, Kent’s responsibility is to monitor a vivacious young woman named Katherine (played by Malin Akerman) who is a civilian code broadcaster for the agency. He undertakes this duty under the guise of protecting her. As might be expected, the station is compromised and the same issue resurfaces. Kent is again told to “retire” an innocent, this time the woman he is working with—or so he thinks.Kent in particular is a tragic figure trapped playing the role of a killer. Most of the characters in the movie are as emotionally dead as Kent, though some of them find the questionable ethics of their work easier to ignore. The young woman, Katherine, is perhaps the primary POV character. She is a naive idealist trying to help her country who fails to understand the life that she has chosen for herself. Katherine gets a harsh lesson in reality. “You take their money! You think you’re not a part of this? Do you think you can f**k around with these people?” Kent says to her.There may be a moral to this story somewhere.

Government already shows its seediness to the whole world. It's scary to think that what we see is only the tip of the iceberg. Even worse is that there's a whole 'nuther battle going on beneath the surface and sometimes innocent civilians get caught up in it completely unknowingly.This movie details some of that seedier side of "black op" type of organization, where assasinations, bombings and kidnappings are part of world political control devices. This organization is a completely self contained branch of what...non-government? that uses civilians to broadcast secretly coded instructions to agents worldwide in order to effect world changing missions of death and destruction; another group made up of rogue agents is determined to wipe out the existing heads of the organization.John Cusak plays the part of an agent who has reached a moral crisis after killing another agent who tried to escape the organization. He is then faced with killing not only a witness to the deed, but the witness's teenaged daughter. He discovers that he is incapable of taking her innocent life, which leaves the task to his partner. Consequently, he is suspended from his position and assigned to be 'handler' of one of the civilian code broadcasters, a lighthearted young woman who is always trying to get Cusak to 'lighten up'.Her life becomes forfeit when the station from where she broadcasts is compromised by the group of rogue agents. Unfortunately, because she knows so much, the organization also wants her silenced. Cusak finds his moral compass is too strong to let that happen and the movie takes off.I always like to watch a movie that shows, no matter how far gone a person may be morally, we all can choose to change our life's direction. This is one of those movies where the good guy does not necessarily finish last.

I first watched this movie out of curiosity, and it was much better than expected. So I bought it!

A brilliant movie, incredibly atmospheric. I remember listening to number stations on my short wave radio when I was a teenager and the cold war memories come flooding back every time I watch it (watched it three times so far). This film is very well directed and produced, with excellent acting, terrific visuals and a great musical score.

Two people locked in a communications centre waiting for something to happen in the world of spying. Cusack - I do not really like much but I acknowledge that he has matured as an actor with age and fills a specific kind of role now. He is good in this one. The support female is good too. The script falters when it has the legs to be really intriguing. This is a mute thriller which is worth watching as a piece of escapism and well worth 3 out of 5. Okay, I will go 4 stars as Cusack is very good in this one.

I think John Cusack is a bit underrated. Grosse Pointe Blank was a fantastic film and he was great in High Fidelity, but I haven't seen much of his more recent stuff. This sounded like it had a fairly decent plot and it didn't disappoint. I was expecting more action and running gun battles but it's not that kind of film, yes, there are a few gory bits and there's more than a few gun fights but it's more of a thriller than an out and out action film. One to keep on the shelf and watch again for me.

If you understand what a numbers station is then this is a thoroughly enjoyable DVD. If you don't understand what a numbers station is then it might be a bit of a mystery to you. Some reading on the web will help you understand what numbers stations are. Recommended DVD for those who understand.

Cusack is usually good in character roles, Malin Akerman I've only previously seen in romantic comedies. Wasn't sure about the casting for a thriller.Needn't have worried! They were both great! Very believable plot, very well acted by all, and leaves you wondering at the end...could this really be going on???As a bonus, it's a thriller with very little swearing compared to the usual fodder.Very happy with this movie, hence the 5 stars, rare from me.