Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (April 10, 2024)
Oscar-winning director George Roy Hill’s career ended in an improbable way via 1988’s lackluster Chevy Chase comedy Funny Farm. 1984’s The Little Drummer Girl acted as his penultimate project and offered a more serious tale.
A Palestinian terrorist known only as “Khalil” (Sami Frey) orchestrates the murder of important Israelis. Israeli intelligence agency Mossad seeks to neutralize this threat.
They recruit an unlikely ally: Charlie (Diane Keaton), an American actress working in London. Mossad sends her undercover with the Palestinian terrorist organization, an endeavor that comes with ample risk for her.
Taken from a 1983 John le Carré novel, Drummer comes with obvious relevance in the world circa 2024. Unfortunately, that acts as an evergreen concept, as it seems impossible for these factions to fashion lasting peace.
Given the subject matter, Drummer should deliver a taut thriller. Unfortunately, it fails to live up to expectations.
The basic problem comes from a lack of momentum and clarity. The story meanders in ways that make it less than comprehensible too much of the time.
Which seems perplexing, as the basic tale feels uncomplicated. At its core, we should follow Charlie’s journey and the challenges she encounters.
Instead, Drummer tosses out various plot complications along the way. We find a pointless romance with operative Joseph (Yorgo Voyagis) and a basic narrative that rambles to the point of incoherence.
This results in a surprising lack of tension. The story becomes so muddled that nothing ever boils and involves the viewer.
Instead, most of Drummer feels like overwrought melodrama. While the movie desperately attempts to connect, it never gets there.
It doesn’t help that Keaton overacts relentlessly and creates a persistently annoying and unsympathetic lead. Perhaps Keaton overdoes the role in an attempt to salvage this mess, but she flops.
Indeed, Keaton makes a flawed movie even worse. Perhaps some of the issues stem from the source novel, but whatever the case, Drummer winds up as a meandering and dull stab at a thriller.