Riz Ahmed shines as unlikely whistleblowing fixer in twisty smart thriller Relay.
A smart script by Justin Piasecki serves as the foundation for David Mackenzie's cat-and-mouse surveillance thriller, which takes an old-fashioned interest in traditional forms such as trains and the US postal service. The film boasts a Hitchcockian set piece at a classical music concert, adding to its sophisticated tone.
Here, Ahmed plays a complex character – a Muslim man who grew up in post-9/11 America, where suspicion drove him to drink. Now in recovery, he runs an illicit specialist service for corporate employees who need to return incriminating documents anonymously. To maintain security, he uses a relay telephone system, which allows deaf and speech-impaired individuals to communicate via reading aloud typed messages by phone operators.
Ahmed's character brokers the return of sensitive material for a fee, keeping a copy as insurance. He agrees to help Lily James' character, Sarah, who initially wanted to expose her employer with stolen documents but now fears repercussions. However, their deal takes an emotional turn, causing Ahmed's character to break his own rules.
Sam Worthington plays the sinister surveillance operative tasked with neutralizing Sarah. The big city is brought to life in some coolly orchestrated scenes, while Mackenzie effectively ramps up tension throughout the film.
Relay promises a thrilling experience for those who've seen Riz Ahmed shine as a heavy metal drummer in 2019's Sound of Metal.
A smart script by Justin Piasecki serves as the foundation for David Mackenzie's cat-and-mouse surveillance thriller, which takes an old-fashioned interest in traditional forms such as trains and the US postal service. The film boasts a Hitchcockian set piece at a classical music concert, adding to its sophisticated tone.
Here, Ahmed plays a complex character – a Muslim man who grew up in post-9/11 America, where suspicion drove him to drink. Now in recovery, he runs an illicit specialist service for corporate employees who need to return incriminating documents anonymously. To maintain security, he uses a relay telephone system, which allows deaf and speech-impaired individuals to communicate via reading aloud typed messages by phone operators.
Ahmed's character brokers the return of sensitive material for a fee, keeping a copy as insurance. He agrees to help Lily James' character, Sarah, who initially wanted to expose her employer with stolen documents but now fears repercussions. However, their deal takes an emotional turn, causing Ahmed's character to break his own rules.
Sam Worthington plays the sinister surveillance operative tasked with neutralizing Sarah. The big city is brought to life in some coolly orchestrated scenes, while Mackenzie effectively ramps up tension throughout the film.
Relay promises a thrilling experience for those who've seen Riz Ahmed shine as a heavy metal drummer in 2019's Sound of Metal.
I'm low-key obsessed with how they structured this article! The way the writer smoothly transitions between plot points is 
. I also love how they highlighted Riz Ahmed's character development - it sounds so complex and nuanced. But what really caught my eye was the mention of the relay telephone system 
- I've been looking for a new way to organize my notes, and this could be just the thing! David Mackenzie's use of traditional forms is genius, adding to the film's sophisticated tone 
. Overall, this film sounds like a wild ride 
i love how riz ahmed just nails his role - he's got that vulnerability & intensity going on. and lily james is amazing as the main character too! the way they build up tension in those scenes with sam worthington is just soooo good. but what i think sets this movie apart is its themes of identity & trust - it's not just about espionage, it's about human connections 
! He has this super deep range, you know? I mean, one minute he's crushing it with that drum solo, next he's playing this complex dude who's got his own moral code. David Mackenzie does a great job weaving all these themes together - corporate espionage, identity, vulnerability... it's like a puzzle 
. The tension builds so slowly but you know something's gonna snap at any moment 
. And that music piece? Whoa, Hitchcock vibes are strong 
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I'm low-key hyped about this one! Riz Ahmed is always on point, but I think he brings this character to life in a really interesting way. Like, I get why people might be skeptical of him at first - the whole "fixer" vibe can feel a bit dodgy - but once you see how complex he is, it's like, whoa! He's got this whole trauma thing going on and yet he's still so sharp and resourceful... And let's be real, the trailer looks SO cinematic 
. I love how the film uses old-school methods like trains and the postal service to highlight just how vulnerable corporate employees can be when they try to speak out. Riz Ahmed is literally incredible in this role, bringing such depth to his character's struggles with recovery and loyalty 
. And the twist at that classical music concert? Mind blown! 
The film's themes of power and control are so timely, I'm definitely going to have to check it out ASAP 
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The idea of him being a fixer for people to anonymously return incriminating documents is super cool! 
It adds a whole new layer to the story, especially with Sarah's character getting into trouble. I'm also loving the Hitchcockian vibes – classy, sophisticated, and totally intense! 
One thing that got me was how the film balances tension and emotion – it seems like Mackenzie nails that perfect mix of both! 
. The whole film has this sophisticated tone, it's like you're being pulled into this cat-and-mouse game and can't look away. I'm definitely keeping an eye out for this one! 
. He plays this guy who's basically a spy for corporate folks, and it's soooo cool 
. The relay phone system he uses is like something out of a sci-fi movie, and I'm here for it 
. The way the film weaves together trains and old-school postal service with this modern surveillance thriller is pure genius 
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It's like a scene straight out of Psycho! But seriously, David Mackenzie has done an amazing job ramping up tension throughout the film. The cinematography is so cool, it brings the big city to life 
, and I love how Riz Ahmed's character breaks his own rules for Sarah (Lily James). It's like they're dancing around each other, playing this cat-and-mouse game 
. Overall, Relay is a thrill ride that's not to be missed 
Riz Ahmed is on fire again, bringing depth to his character with that vulnerability when he's not brokering corporate secrets 
. The twisty plot keeps you guessing from start to finish, and the Hitchcock vibes are spot on 
. And can we talk about Sam Worthington's sinister presence? 
. The twisty plot had me on the edge of my seat, it was like I was right there with Riz Ahmed's character trying to help Lily James' girl out. And Sam Worthington as the bad guy? Chills 
can't wait to see it all go down on screen! The Hitchcockian set piece sounds insane too 
David Mackenzie is a genius for incorporating old-school surveillance tactics into this thriller. And I love that the film highlights the relay telephone system - so cool how it allows deaf and speech-impaired individuals to communicate in a unique way 
. Sam Worthington as the villain? he's always good at playing those roles 
. Bring on Relay, can't wait to binge-watch it!