Aaron Eckhartis one of those actors that Hollywood hasn’t really been sure what to do with. While he’s given great performances in a wide range of films, includingThank You For SmokingandThe Dark Knight, he’s also been a part of box office bombs likeI, FrankensteinandThe Rum Diary. Eckhart’s latest movie,Chief of Station, lies somewhere in the middle. Its twisting, turning maze of deception and espionage has been done better in other films, most notablyTinker Tailor Soldier Spy. But Eckhart’s performance as the titular CIA Chief of Station Ben Malloyis the glue that holds the film together,keeping the audience invested from start to finish. And make no mistake, there is an audience: it was in Hulu’s Top 15 list, standing toe to toe with entries in the Planet of the Apes and Alien franchises, which is no small feat.
Chief of Station
Set against the backdrop of political instability, an experienced CIA officer is tasked with leading the agency’s covert operations in a key overseas location. Her mission: to maintain the delicate balance of power and gather crucial intelligence. As secrets from her past start to surface, she faces both professional and personal challenges that could jeopardize the mission’s success.
What Is ‘Chief of Station’ About?
Chief of Stationopens with tragedy, as Eckhart’s Ben Malloy completes a mission in Budapest, intending to reunite with his wife Farrah (Laëtitia Eïdo) in time for their wedding anniversary. But a bomb goes off, killing Farrah and plunging Malloy into a deep depression. Six months later, he’s called back to the CIA where he learnsthat Farrah was intentionally targeted by the bombing, sending him on a quest around the globe to uncover his late wife’s secrets. Malloy’s search for answers puts him into conflict with his protégé John Branca (Alex Pettyfer), who’s the new chief of station, and Krystyna Kowerski (Olga Kurylenko), a rogue Russian agent who worked with Farrah. In true spy movie fashion, there’s corruption, betrayal, and shootouts galore.
Aaron Eckhart Wasn’t the First Choice for ‘Chief of Station’
Eckhart was not the first choice forChief of Station’s lead role;in fact, he was actually a last-minute replacement.Alec Baldwinwas originally supposed to star as Ben Malloy, but had to drop outdue to a previous commitment. Eckhart stepped in and the energy when he’s on screen is palpable, whether there’s an action scene or not. Eckhart plays the grieving widower quite well; one scene has him trudging listlessly through a supermarket, while another has him reliving the death of his wife while simply sitting in his car. Both times, the sound design works in tandem with Eckhart’s performance, letting all the sound fall out so that it feels like Malloy is being crushed under waves of grief.
There’s also fire in Eckhart’s performance; in the CIA meeting where his superiors reveal Farrah’s other life, he reacts withthe sort of intense, volcanic angersomeone would have if you suggested their significant other was a spy. That same anger is what fueled Eckhart’s performance as Harvey Dent inThe Dark Knight, and it’s wonderful to see that he still has that energy inChief of Station. It’s an energy that the rest of the cast could have used, as Kurylenko’s appearance is far too brief and Pettyfer’s performance reads like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Aaron Eckhart Has Gravitated Toward Action Thrillers
Chief of Stationmarks a growing trend for Eckhart,as most of his recent films have been action thrillers in the same vein. These films have simple premises, includingMuzzle, where a man seeks to avenge the death of his dog, andThe Bricklayer, where he plays a CIA agent turned…well, bricklayer. Eckhart is often the draw for these films, as he refuses to give anything less than 100% in his performance, even if the movie is derivative and not particulary life-changing. It also means that Eckhart is the latest actor to join the “geri-action” genre of films,asThe Guardianoff-handedly referred to in its review ofChief of Station. The “geri-action” genre was popularized byLiam Neeson’sTaken, and saw actors fromDenzel Washingtonto Eckhart find new relevance in the type of boilerplate action fare that was a staple of the ’80s and ’90s.
Aaron Eckhart’s Performance as ‘The Dark Knight’s Two-Face Deserves More Recognition
‘The Dark Knight’ had not one, but two of the best supervillain performances of all time.
In fact, one film set Eckhart’s current trajectory, and that’sOlympus Has Fallen. While he isn’t the lead (that honor goes to B-movie kingGerard Butler), Eckhart has a significant role as U.S. President Benjamin Asher. Like Ben Malloy, Asher is grieving the loss of his wife Margaret (Ashley Judd), but also has enough steel to stand up to a cadre of terrorists holding him hostage. Thanks toAntoine Fuqua’s direction and the bloody action sequences,Olympus Has Fallenhas spawned an entire franchise, including an upcoming television series and the sequelLondon Has Fallen, which Eckhart returned for.Chief of Stationis a dual reminder that Aaron Eckhart has action bonafides and that he hasn’t lost his acting spark.
Chief of Stationis available to watch on Hulu in the U.S.
Watch on Hulu
