‘Relay’ Review: Riz Ahmed Excels in David Mackenzie’s Mostly Clever Paranoid Thriller

As a seasoned observer of the intricate dance between privacy and power, I found David Mackenzie’s gritty thriller “Relay” to be a riveting exploration of the modern surveillance state. Having lived through the aftermath of 9/11 and witnessed the erosion of our once-cherished privacy rights, this film hit close to home for me.

One significant consequence of the 9/11 attacks was that the U.S. government utilized widespread sorrow and fear to enact stringent legislation limiting American’s privacy. The USA PATRIOT Act, which stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, was passed in October 2001, just over a month after the Twin Towers collapse. This act granted the government broad surveillance powers, allowing agents to intercept emails, phone calls, or monitor credit reports and banking history without a warrant. Essentially, the Patriot Act gave authorities unrestricted access to personal information under the guise of safety, transforming every citizen into a potential subject of investigation. In the years since, Americans have grown accustomed to sacrificing privacy, even voluntarily providing data when using certain technologies and resources.

In the gritty world of David Mackenzie’s thriller “Relay”, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, I find myself playing as Ash, an under-the-radar tech whiz. My role? The go-between for whistleblowers and companies in danger, helping those who question their decision to expose corporate wrongdoings by aiding them in returning stolen documents and other evidence of malfeasance. I operate covertly, employing methods that ensure my anonymity: a messaging service for the hearing-impaired, the secure confines of the US postal system, and cash transactions along with burner phones. It’s a game of shadows, but it’s one I’m determined to win.

Relay salutes the classic style of fast-paced action thrillers known for their intriguing mysteries. It’s also an exhilarating movie set in New York City. Mackenzie (known for Hell or High Water and Outlaw King) opts for less common cityscapes or busy Grand Central shots, instead offering glimpses of a Lower East Side undergoing gentrification and the grittier corners of Myrtle-Broadway in Brooklyn. The director also carefully portrays how Ash manages to remain unidentified in today’s world where privacy is considered a luxury, capturing the protagonist’s actions with the same tense urgency as typical high-speed chase sequences.

The movie begins by showing Ash negotiating a confidential agreement with Hoffman (Matthew Maher), an ex-employee of Optimal Pharmaceuticals, a company that seems suspiciously similar to Purdue Pharma. Tense camera angles during a meeting between a fretful mid-level manager and his CEO (Victor Garber) set the tense mood for Relay. The deal proceeds smoothly, allowing Hoffman to escape from two thugs hired to trail and intimidate him. Later, we watch Ash, a cool and detached character, secure the file in a safe after returning to his office.

As one case concludes, another arises, and this is precisely what happens in the movie ‘Relay’. At its heart lies a perilous game of hide-and-seek between Ash and the agricultural company that’s threatening Sarah (played by Lily James). She’s a dedicated researcher who finds herself in a state of constant worry after she secretly obtains a detailed report exposing her previous employers for selling fertilizer contaminated with harmful toxins. Similar to Hoffman, Sarah contemplated reporting the matter to the police or leaking it to the media, but the escalating threats from the company made her reconsider. Unable to find legal representation on her own, she is eventually directed to Ash’s unconventional service.

In “Relay,” Ash’s most compelling aspects stem from the intricacies of his brokerage role. Mackenzie masterfully directs when he zeroes in on message relays, burner phones, and the red tape of the postal system. The slick transitions in Ash’s wardrobe, as he leads Sarah through the process of paying him $50,000 and delivering original reports, accentuate the prejudice inherent in the surveillance state and corporations. Often, Ash, a man of color in post-9/11 New York City, blends into the crowd, donning casual attire as a delivery worker or jogger navigating the city. He seldom engages with people, except for attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or visiting his fake ID provider. Ahmed delivers a remarkable performance in this role, conveying a wide array of emotions – from self-assured swagger to intense focus – with minimal dialogue. Given the nature of “Relay,” which revolves around a man operating covertly, Ash can seem distant. However, Ahmed’s portrayal includes moments of emotional intimacy that become more frequent as the fixer gets closer to his client.

Although it’s intriguing to witness Ash’s emotional depth, this exposure also highlights some potential flaws in the movie Relay. As Ash grows closer to Sarah, Justin Piasecki’s screenplay starts to delve into an unrealistic and overly emotional territory. One of the issues lies in the pace — their relationship doesn’t have enough time to fully evolve. The scene showing their budding friendship not only hints at some of the film’s surprises, but it also regrettably steers away from more intriguing storylines, particularly regarding the ever-present surveillance culture. Ash takes actions that contradict his character, trusting people in a way that feels strikingly naive for such a meticulous individual. This sudden change, despite its good intentions, dulls the suspense of an otherwise captivating thriller, leading to an underwhelming ending that doesn’t align with our sense of unease.

2024-09-10 06:24

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