Günther Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a hard drinking German security agent spying on Hamburg's Muslim community and philanthropist Abdullah. Issa Karpov is an illegal that The Americans Martha Sullivan (Robin Wright) claims to be a Chechen terrorists. Bachmann wants to use him to make contact with an unknown banker. Refugee lawyer Annabel Richter (Rachel McAdams) takes on Karpov's case. He tells her to contact banker Tommy Brue (Willem Dafoe) about a mysterious account of over 10 Million Euros left by his Russian military commander father.

It's an interesting murky spy thriller from John le Carré. However it lacks any intensity. Hoffman delivers yet another solid performance. The plot demands intense energy but the movie doesn't allow it. I don't like the fake accented English from North American actors either. It makes the movie feel artificial. All the performances are solid but heavy. Everybody is prodding. There is simply no energy, no tension and no drive.

"A Most Wanted Man" has the last great lead role for Philip Seymour Hoffman. The story was compelling to watch and pretty much everybody in here gave at least solid performances. The hardest thing watching this for me was to see his character here, a messed-up agent fighting his inner demons just like his political enemies, and knowing that the actor behind this fine performance was probably in much tougher struggles than his character here.

Anyway, back to the movie, there were some parts where I felt the central character was written just a tad too stereotypical, but thanks to Hoffman's talent, it did not get really bad. Apart from him, there is the little-known Grigoriy Dobrygin playing a major role and the rest of the cast is a mix of Hollywood and German actors. I especially liked Willem Dafoe, who gives the perfect display of a rich man wrong place wrong time and has to go through quite a bit here because of his father, but no chance to really get out of the whole dilemma quickly. Looking at the German actors, Nina Hoss shines as in pretty much everything she is in these days and creates a truly three-dimensional character. Rainer Bock only plays a minor role, but still manages to add a lot to the story. Daniel Brühl is forgettable as in pretty much everything he is in these days.

Directr Anton Corbijn has created a tense spy thriller here, in which you can never be really sure who are the good ones, who are the bad ones. There is no black and white. Thumbs up for him. The genre really could need a healthy addition of quality and quantity these days. Also, the director proves how to successfully transform from a music director (worked with U2, Metallica, Depeche Mode, Bryan Adams) into a great movie director who works with superstars like Hoffman or Clooney. Writer Andrew Bovell adapted "Edge of Darkness" starring Mel Gibson 4 years ago and here we have his take on one of the many John le Carré novels. I recommend this film a lot and it's such a shame the lead actor is gone. He may have had so many more great performances in him. One could have been a prequel to this movie showing us what exactly happened in Beirut. Such a shame.

Based on John le Carré's novel and set in a post 9/11 europe.

In A Most Wanted Man, Philip Seymour Hoffman gives his final film performance. He plays world weary dishevelled German spymaster Günther Bachmann whose job is to keep track of Islamic terrorists and root out those higher up in the food chain.

When Issa a half Chechen and Russian illegal immigrant arrives in Hamburg. He becomes a person of interest to the various spy communities because of his links with the Chechen terrorism.

Issa's father was a prominent Russian money launderer who had contacts with a prominent German banker. Issa has been left a major inheritance by his father. Issa rejects his inheritance and wants to give his money away.

Bachmann wants this generous act used to snare a respected Muslim philanthropist, Dr Abdullah who is suspected of funneling money to terrorists.

However not everyone is on Bachmann's side with people who have their own agendas.

A Most Wanted Man is a sluggish muted movie. It revels in its dubious morality, confusion and bleakness.

The acting from Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe is very good. The story lacks dramatic clout.