‘Chief Of Station’ Review – Aaron Eckhart Admirably Anchors An Otherwise Generic Spy Thriller

Intrigue, espionage, and a lot of action are central to Chief of Station. The film stars Aaron Eckhart as Ben Malloy, a former CIA station chief who loses his wife, also a former operative, in a terrible accident. However, he discovers a vast cover-up, causing this former agent to head back into the field to solve the mystery. As Ben travels to Eastern Europe, his investigation reveals a conspiracy that rocks everything he knew about his wife’s death. Chief of Station is a serviceable thriller with, as usual, a strong lead performance by Eckhart. The script feels undercooked, with an overreliance on fistfights and loud explosions. Still, the quick pace and adrenaline give the film enough momentum to complete its mission.

The espionage thriller is a common trope in movies. Plots are often sparse in favor of high-stakes action and explosive spectacles. The beats are as follows: An upstanding agent is caught up in an act of betrayal; next, the agent works to break the conspiracy and ultimately save the day. These elements have become standard elements in these types of films. How well they are executed largely depends on the script or story. 

In the case of Chief of Station, there is little surprise or depth regarding the story itself. Viewers from the start will be able to crack the mystery and uncover who is behind the death of Ben’s wife, Farrah (Laëtitia Eïdo), and the subsequent cover-up. At the start, the film makes no excuse to hide the fact that something stinks in the state of Denmark. Rather than develop a story or contort expectations, the film relies mainly on a myriad of gun battles and intense fisticuffs. The action compensates, perhaps more so than it should, for the lack of a strong story. 

The shadowy world of the CIA is on full display at the start of the film. Ben is caught in a conspiracy stretching from Langley to Budapest. The film forsakes much in the way of backstory or exposition to get right into the action—a bold move when the story is slim. The villains are thin sketches, and characters often feel like chess pieces on board. Eckhart anchors much of the buoyancy, but this film becomes a largely solo effort without much help from supporting players. His stoicism is on full display, reminding the audience of his range as an actor. 

Eckhart is once again at the top of his game. While the film does not have enough meat on the bones for him to chew, he does what he can and delivers a solid performance. There is an additional element of Ben’s son Nick (Chris Petrovski), who is caught in the conspiracy’s web. Nick proves nothing more than a plot device, but Eckhart manages to breathe some beautiful humanity into the role of a concerned father who will stop at nothing to save his son.

The action in the film is the pulse, which is sure to get the adrenaline pumping. Eckhart is in his element and shines. Recent outings such as Rumble Through The Dark and The Bricklayer have put him as a disillusioned or hardened individual. In Chief of Station, he plays a similar archetype but never phones in the performance and delivers his fair share of punches and swings. Once it becomes clear who is behind the conspiracy that killed Ben’s wife, there is not much left but an overload of action. 

Chief of Station is unlikely to reinvent the wheel regarding espionage thrillers. Still, Eckhart’s action and, at times, stoic performance are enough to make this film passable and frankly enjoyable.

Chief of Station will debut in select theaters and On Demand on May 3, 2024, courtesy of Vertical. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krsu0mazuZ4]