Movie Review - The Numbers Station

The Numbers Station (2013)

Starring John Cusack, Malin Akerman, and Liam Cunningham

Directed by Kasper Barfoed

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

When CIA agent Emerson Kent (John Cusack) screws up a black ops mission, he's relegated to protecting code operator Katherine (Malin Ackerman) at a remote CIA radio broadcast station in England.  At this numbers station, Katherine sits in a broadcast booth and spouts series upon series of numbers which are codes containing information regarding missions for agents in the field.  Emerson and Katherine share the station with two other folks just like themselves, working on opposite shifts.  However, one morning, upon Emerson and Katherine's arrival, they find themselves being shot at by a sniper in a radio tower.  Quickly hustling into the numbers station, the two discover that their predecessors have been compromised and that their last act was unknowingly dispensing codes that told CIA agents to commit some horrible acts.  With that sniper outside trying to make his way in and those field agents getting ready to carry out their treasonous acts, Emerson and Katherine are working against the clock to get things right and save themselves.

What's most interesting about The Numbers Station is that, for the most part, this is a two-actor affair.  John Cusack and Malin Ackerman are onscreen together for most of the film and, considering what some may consider the "B-levelness" of the two stars, they more than hold their own with Ackerman proving to be the big surprise to me.  Cusack is seemingly playing a guy we've seen him play before, showing very little emotion as is often the case with him and his roles in the past decade.  Ackerman, however, gets us to feel for her character's plight despite the under-developed role she's been given.

Ultimately, what holds The Numbers Station back from being really good is a script that truly intrigues. Yes, the premise is moderately unique and the concept of never leaving the numbers station once we're inside it is an added twist, the claustrophobia doesn't really add to the tension we should be feeling.  Fortunately (and smartly), the film clocks in at under ninety minutes, so we're never really bored by it, but we do find ourselves wishing for a bit more pizzazz.  (You can certainly tell it was made with a low budget mindset.)

The RyMickey Rating:  C+

On an unrelated note, if you haven't checked out Malin Ackerman's sitcom Trophy Wife on ABC, give it a look.  It started out rather unimpressive and I admittedly gave up on it, but its creative juices began flowing about four episodes in and it's definitely become one of the more underrated comedies on network tv at the moment.