Ava

The eponymous assassin consistently outsmarts her male counterparts in Ava, and the inconsequential film, as well.

Bolstered by Jessica Chastain’s committed performance, this espionage thriller from director Tate Taylor (The Help) is another example of an intriguing character is search of a better movie.

Chastain’s title character is an assassin working for a top-secret black ops organization, specifically for Duke (John Malkovich), a no-nonsense boss who doubles as a father figure during the rare moments she’s not infiltrating terrorist networks around the globe.

After one such operation, she returns to her hometown of Boston to some family drama involving her estranged sister (Jess Weixler), their overbearing mother (Geena Davis), and an ex-boyfriend (Common) with a big heart and a gambling problem.

As details are gradually revealed about Ava’s background and fragile personal life, we see how she internalizes her emotions and channels that pent-up despair into her work. Her toughness masks an internal vulnerability.

Don’t let Ava’s affinity for wigs and disguises fool you. She’s just as handy with her self-defense techniques as she is with fashion sense. A nighttime confrontation with a henchman in a park showcases her credentials in that regard.

Eventually, her work begins to interfere with her efforts at redemption back home, setting up an inevitable showdown involving an Irish gangster (Colin Farrell) with a personal vendetta against Duke that has Ava caught in the middle.

A first-rate ensemble cast does its best to elevate some formulaic material. In particular, the chameleonic abilities Chastain has shown throughout her career come in handy during this charismatic portrayal. Plus, the rarely-seen Davis brings depth and complexity to an underwritten supporting role.

Despite some generic action sequences, the technically proficient film enables Taylor to change gears on his already diverse filmmaking resume. However, the undercooked script by Australian writer Matthew Newton (From Nowhere) generates only intermittent suspense while struggling to establish a deeper emotional connection in part because the characters feel more familiar than fresh.

As the coincidences pile up and the logical gaps widen, it becomes tougher to penetrate Ava’s poker-faced glare. While the rooting interest dwindles, so does the film’s killer instinct.

Rated R, 97 minutes.