Jennifer Lawrence trusts to Francis Lawrence, who directed her in the final three Hunger Games films. As such, she bares it all in this taut spy thriller.

Based on the novel by Jason Matthews the story introduces us to Dominika Egorova (Lawrence). Her promising career as a ballerina is brought to a brutal end when an accident shatters her dreams and her leg.

She is recruited into a special state school, where Sparrows are trained. These are elite spies who use seduction and sex to cultivate their assets and force them to betray their secrets and those of their government.

Dominika learns under the Matron (Charlotte Rampling), is overseen by General Korchnoi (Jeremy Irons) and is doing everything to take care of her mother (Joely Richardson).

She soon is given a high-profile assignment. It seems an American agent, Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) is working at getting back into Russia to reach an asset of his own. She’s going to turn him.

It’s a gritty thriller. It’s violent, littered with nudity, and tells an engaging story. With the exception of the nudity, which is something we wouldn’t have gotten in this way in the 80s, it feels like a throwback Cold War thriller.

Lawrence puts it all out there, physically and emotionally and is captivating (though her bangs drive me crazy through out this film – and not in a good way). It’s a fantastic looking film, boldly putting the ‘honeypot’ spy school front and center, something that hasn’t really been done before.

It’s such a departure for Lawrence, especially coming on the heels of the Hunger Games. She remains a fantastic actor, and surrounding her with actors like Irons, Rampling, Richardson and Mary-Louise Parker just show how good she is.

It’s dark, gritty, the characters are manipulative, and even when Lawrence and Edgerton share the screen and begin to grow closer (?) you’re not sure what is to be believed. And the spycraft continues right to the end of the film.

It’s grittiness is welcomed. This is a James Bond, Mission: Impossible or Bourne film, this is a dark story, set in the real world of spycraft and the lengths they go to to accomplish their missions. Can they trust one another, or are Dominika and Nate enemies and Cold Warriors?

I’ve been a fan of Lawrence’s since Winter’s Bone, and I love seeing her in all manner of roles. She always impresses, and this one is no different.

Having said that, it’s not going to be for everyone, it’s almost two and a half hours, and the subject matter is very adult, and the violence when it happens can be incredibly jarring. But damn, what a film.