You have to give direct to video vet Robert Lee credit for resourcefulness. This 2000 low budget opus hopscotches from Russia to Boston and yet the movie was shot entirely in Victoria British Columbia. Footballer turned action hero Brian Bosworth (Stone Cold) plays a CIA agent who busts out of an asylum in Kiev and escapes to Boston, only to be kidnapped by the local branch of the Russian Mafia. Viewed as a low budget local production The Operative has an engagingly amateurish quality, like a home movie on steroids. The dialogue is howlingly awful unless you regard it as a sloppy satire on Z grade action pics, in which case lines like " "They say danger is the ultimate aphrodisiac. Personally I don't think you need danger to be horny" make a weird kind of sense. Recommended to would be producers looking for tips on how to get a lot of bang for very few bucks and/or action fans who think Dolph Lundgren movies are too cerebral.
7 Reviews
No KGB --- it's a renegade/bank/hostage comedy
Lt Wolf Maker22 May 2001
Straight-to-video, B-action movie...but it's better than you'd expect. The director obviously went to film school [I'm assuming], because it isn't technically autistic like you'd probably expect from the film's context (B-actors, Russian accents and a low budget). And the story didn't suck so I wasn't bored. Cheers.
Beginning credits were cool. Then when it starts you're hit with a sex scene, which made me suspicious as to the quality of the rest of the movie (since you know a movie is bad when they revert to good old fashioned sex to grab your attention). But my suspicions were wrong.
The Russian guy "Gregor" looked like a buff, steroided up version of Bobby DeNiro (cool!). Basil looks like Larry Drake. Moments of pure Desperado-like violence. The music is successfully folded in. Could I also say that the guy who wrote this has been watching WAY too many Smokey & the Bandit movies.
The Operative: cheap, but entertaining.
Beginning credits were cool. Then when it starts you're hit with a sex scene, which made me suspicious as to the quality of the rest of the movie (since you know a movie is bad when they revert to good old fashioned sex to grab your attention). But my suspicions were wrong.
The Russian guy "Gregor" looked like a buff, steroided up version of Bobby DeNiro (cool!). Basil looks like Larry Drake. Moments of pure Desperado-like violence. The music is successfully folded in. Could I also say that the guy who wrote this has been watching WAY too many Smokey & the Bandit movies.
The Operative: cheap, but entertaining.
A surprise! A great movie done in a hurry! The BOZ is back!
bhturnow22 March 2001
I was very surprised. A very well done movie if you are an action fan. Of course, BOZ fans will love it. Bosworth plays a former CIA Operative who gets locked up for 11 years by the US. He comes back better than ever and plays two characters in this action flick. Some corny scenes, but overall, very well done. Great soundtrack and introduction! Good editing saved this movie. The Boz is back and better than ever. It's no Stone Cold, but very good. Keep up the good work Brain! The Operative gets 3.5 out of 4 stars!
Stylish Action Sequences
schmoopella8 March 2001
Robert Lee and the Cast and Crew of "The Operative" did a great job making a movie in 18 days of shooting on a shoestring budget.
If you like action, interesting characters and some unexpected comedy with a sensitive sub-plot, then you should enjoy "The Operative". Sports fans will be impressed with Brian Bosworth's portrayal of more than a couple of characters. Congrats on a low-budget movie with big-budget appeal!
If you like action, interesting characters and some unexpected comedy with a sensitive sub-plot, then you should enjoy "The Operative". Sports fans will be impressed with Brian Bosworth's portrayal of more than a couple of characters. Congrats on a low-budget movie with big-budget appeal!
Cool film! Bosworth is incredible in this one!
Movie Nuttball18 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The Operative is a good film that has a good cast which includes Brian Bosworth, John Tench, Rachel Hayward, Jerry Wasserman,Teryl Rothery, Bob Dawson, Jenny Clark, Taras Kostyuk, John B. Lowe, Christopher Shyer, Gordon May, Robert Saunders, Bruce Pinard, Dan Rae, and Jason Marshall. The acting by all of these actors is very good. Bosworth is really excellent in this film. I thought that he performed good. I thought it was cool seeing him play a duel role! The thrills is really good and some of it is surprising. The movie is filmed very good. The music is good. The film is quite interesting and the movie really keeps you going until the end. This is a very good and thrilling film. If you like Brian Bosworth, John Tench, Rachel Hayward, Jerry Wasserman,Teryl Rothery, Bob Dawson, Jenny Clark, Taras Kostyuk the rest of the cast in the film, Action, Adventure, Thrillers, Dramas, and interesting films then I strongly recommend you to see this film today!
Cool Movie!
LeneMorissette8 September 2001
I enjoyed this film even though it was a little slow in parts. The characters were good as was the acting. I liked Vicky coz she wasn't a wimp and unlike the others, she didn't scream when she had a gun pointing at her head. (I lost count of how many times that happened!) I think that Teryl Rothery is a brilliant actress. (Other stuff that she is in that is worth seeing is 'Andre' and 'Stargate the tv series', the latter being v.cool!)
The Boz is back
Neo-19726 May 2001
The Boz is back .It's great to see our former superstar player and "Mr. Stonecold" back in a good movie. Brian displays an uncanny acting talent by playing two roles opposite each other. Just wish though there was more action.
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