The message at the beginning states "Based on real events"; I really cannot believe events so absurd and forced could ever happen.
This is another Mossad movie where agents are incredible bland with everybody but themselves. Where forced and basically unrealistic setups are used in order to obtain information but at the end things solved just miraculously.
A great actress as Monica Belucci is basically unused here. An outstanding actor as Kingsley has to carry a character that too boring and to be bland to be realistic.
The rest of the cast simply cannot act.
The story starts interesting for the first minutes; but then expends almost two hours in father / son relationship or on love story; both of them unnecessary an unrealistic and completely boring.
When the not so unexpected ending comes; it is almost impossible to believe a bunch of incredible smart people were played for fools. Do not waste your time it is pretty stupid and worthless.
39 Reviews
Too, too Slow. Needed to be better told
itsbobr9 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Adereth (Ben Kingsley) was a top notch Mossad Agent, but now Samuel (Itzik Cohen) the Head of Mossad doesn't trust him anymore. Adereth claims he is onto a Dutch company making biochemicals for Syria but Samuel doesn't believe him and requires proof. Therefore Samuel assigns Agent Daniel (Itay Tiran) to keep an eye on Adereth who also sometimes goes by the name of Simon Bo.
This is slow, too slow, and we get bogged down for long times into some non-interesting spy-counter spy stuff and a love interest with Adereth and Angela (Monica Bellucci). Finally, when, the picture -proof of the Dutch company making biochemicals for Syria, is shown to Samuel, the pictures show nothing of the kind and the Mossad wants to arrest Adereth. Daniel doesn't let that happen and this is where the movie actually starts - quite a ways into the movie. Before that we were inundated with the Adereth's health and his teaching the younger spy, Daniel, and, of course, the love angles between Adereth and Angela.
Adereth knows he is on the right track when dead fish keep showing up in the waters in a Belgian city. By accident Adereth finds the real pictures of the biochemicals being produced and texts them to Daniel.
There are 2-twists, one involving the General who Adereth meets in the beginning of the movie, and the next one involves Angela. You have to know this because chances are you may have shut this down after 10-minutes because the pacing is off the charts; that is until Daniel doesn't let the Mossad arrest Adereth.
This could have been better told and kept me from La La Land, at times. (5/10)
Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Humor: No. Language: Yes, but mostly in the beginning. Rating: C
This is slow, too slow, and we get bogged down for long times into some non-interesting spy-counter spy stuff and a love interest with Adereth and Angela (Monica Bellucci). Finally, when, the picture -proof of the Dutch company making biochemicals for Syria, is shown to Samuel, the pictures show nothing of the kind and the Mossad wants to arrest Adereth. Daniel doesn't let that happen and this is where the movie actually starts - quite a ways into the movie. Before that we were inundated with the Adereth's health and his teaching the younger spy, Daniel, and, of course, the love angles between Adereth and Angela.
Adereth knows he is on the right track when dead fish keep showing up in the waters in a Belgian city. By accident Adereth finds the real pictures of the biochemicals being produced and texts them to Daniel.
There are 2-twists, one involving the General who Adereth meets in the beginning of the movie, and the next one involves Angela. You have to know this because chances are you may have shut this down after 10-minutes because the pacing is off the charts; that is until Daniel doesn't let the Mossad arrest Adereth.
This could have been better told and kept me from La La Land, at times. (5/10)
Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Humor: No. Language: Yes, but mostly in the beginning. Rating: C
Unbearable writing, I couldn't finish past the 2nd half
Top_Dawg_Critic4 September 2019
1 hour and 53 mins of blah blahhh blahhh. Wow, what were the writers thinking? As a fan of Ben Kingsley, all the useless, boring and unnecessary dialogue they gave him, made even him unbearable. I guess the producers never heard of editing a film down with proper pacing to make it viewable. This should be a 1 star from me, but all 3/10 go to Ben Kingsley and the fairly decent directing and cinematography.
Awful
noceilingspt18 October 2019
This is the genre that usually wins me over just because of the genre. Oh my goodness I gave this show like 5 opportunities to get going and it never delivered. Please save your Promo code/ stream/ your $1.75/ or your time, and skip this one. It sounds soooo good... we'll... it's the complete opposite. Stopped it after an hour and returned without finishing. Acting, scene flow, everything, F.
Incessant chatting, nothing else
Leofwine_draca19 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
SPIDER IN THE WEB is a would-be spy thriller that follows a mismatched duo in the form of ageing spy Ben Kingsley and a younger protege. It's a co-production between the UK, Belgium and Israel, but all it offers is talk, talk and more talk and nothing approaching proper plotting or any kind of interest in the material whatsoever. The cast go through the motions, Monica Bellucci shows up to add the usual glamour, and the whole thing feels generally tired and paint-by-numbers. If you enjoy watching characters chat incessantly for hours on end then maybe this film is for you...
Is Kingsley joining Michael Madson and Nicholas Cage
random-7077815 December 2019
It lasts wayyyyyyyyy toooooo longggggg
tooleman-3267511 October 2019
If I'm ever on Death Row on my final day - I want to watch this movie to the end.
I couldn't make it to the end in freedom!!
It will make me seem like I lived a few extra years!
I blew out of it - seriously I tried but I couldn't make it!
If anyone knows how it ended please let me know!
Thanks!
John
I couldn't make it to the end in freedom!!
It will make me seem like I lived a few extra years!
I blew out of it - seriously I tried but I couldn't make it!
If anyone knows how it ended please let me know!
Thanks!
John
Too much cut? Lots of missing segments
scifiactionfan25 August 2022
These are my orders
nogodnomasters14 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Adereth (Ben Kingsley) works for the Mossad. He has contact with a general in Syria and they are investigating to see if a Dutch company is aiding Syria to develop chemical weapons. The general is kidnapped. Adereth has been falsifying reports and keeping the general's payment. He is called back to Antwerp where he continues his investigation. He is also being investigated. Young Mossad agent Daniel (Itay Tiran) is assigned to watch Adereth, who worked closely with Daniel's father.
The story lacks cohesive linearity. It was boring much of the way, even the killing scenes were a yawn. Claimed to have been inspired by true events.
Guide: F-word. Implied sex. No nudity.
The story lacks cohesive linearity. It was boring much of the way, even the killing scenes were a yawn. Claimed to have been inspired by true events.
Guide: F-word. Implied sex. No nudity.
The saving grace is Kingsley, who can do this sort of thing in his sleep.
HarryLags2 September 2019
Ben Kingsley plays an aging Israeli agent investigating a company suspected of selling chemical weapons in this spy thriller.
"Spider in the Web" is slow and talky; and though it delivers a couple of good twists, the unfortunate result is that you wind up thinking how much more you'd prefer to be reading this kind of story, that's been told many times in spy novels, than instead of watching this tedious exercise. But the saving grace is Kingsley, who can do this sort of thing in his sleep but never gives the appearance that he's doing so.
Conclusion - This movie is slow and boring but Kingsley, who's always at his best is the only reason to watch it... Rated this 6/10
"Spider in the Web" is slow and talky; and though it delivers a couple of good twists, the unfortunate result is that you wind up thinking how much more you'd prefer to be reading this kind of story, that's been told many times in spy novels, than instead of watching this tedious exercise. But the saving grace is Kingsley, who can do this sort of thing in his sleep but never gives the appearance that he's doing so.
Conclusion - This movie is slow and boring but Kingsley, who's always at his best is the only reason to watch it... Rated this 6/10
boring
lifelinespublishing18 December 2019
Obviously not for the Millennials...
eyefordetail16 December 2019
When I looked at the rating of the movie I almost didn't watch it. Luckily I distrust the ratings these days. I'm so happy I do.
This is a rare find of a movie. I think one should focus on it being a spy drama. It is not a thriller. Not that it does not have its thrilling moments.
The movie is about an end-of-the-road spy and a youngster that has to shadow him. And herein lies the brilliance of the movie. Using relationships and not technology, using common sense and not apps. There is much to glean from the rich experience of the old spy. The pace is perfect. There are reminiscences and emotions, moments of style and moments of sadness. It's all there.
This is more like a good old spy novel than a genre movie. And frankly, the genre has little to offer. Which is why Daniel Craig's Bond rebuilt the fading franchise. Almost no gadgets.
The story develops and the suspense is well-tuned. For those who "couldn't get to the end", well, your loss. It has a wonderful twist that I for one didn't see coming.
Kingley makes the movie. What a giant of acting. And Monica Belucci almost renders the same impact as a Sophia Loren. What a dame! Itay Tiran is someone to keep an eye on.
Well, I loved the movie. Every bit of it. But then, I watched the first Star Wars in the cinema and thought that it was the most incredible thing I ever saw. That's when Michael Bay was 12.
Slow going
neil-douglas201023 July 2022
Not exactly a thriller, more a drama with a lot of talkie scenes and a couple of "exciting" set pieces. Shame really as Ben Kingsley is good as the main character. Monica Belucci is hardly used which is a mistake, as she would've made the film more watchable. For a film which is about Mossad and Syria, it's sadly pondersome.
Too Static, Not Enough Action
lavatch9 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Even actor Ben Kingsley cannot salvage this John Le Carré wannabe thriller "Spider in the Web." The main problem is the talky nature of what should be an action picture inspired by true events.
The gist of the film is the Mossad operation to locate evidence of a chemical plant used to manufacture horrific weapons of mass destruction to be used in Syria by the Assad regime. But the film is vague on the details of such an operation, and the best it can dredge up is some shaky photographic evidence.
Kingsley's character Avram Adereth teams up with a young partner named Daniel, who is the son of one of Adereth's closest friends and career spies. Adereth takes Daniel under his wing, and the two characters play a dangerous double game to locate the so-called Spider in the Web file that will be the "smoking gun" for the evidence of the chemical plants.
There is also a love interest in Adereth's passion for Dr. Angela Caroni, who claims to be an environmental activist. Angela becomes involved in the high-risk operation to steal the computer file Spider in the Web. Angela has perhaps the best line in the film when she tells Adereth, "You make love just the way you live life: in despair."
The main problem with the film was the overly complicated narrative strands and the static nature of the scenes. There is too much filler dialogue and too many long set speeches with Adereth waxing nostalgic about the past. Most of the action was occurring in the Netherlands, where the secrets about the chemical operation were allegedly located.
The film opens with an epigram from Psalms, "Man is like a breath. His days are but a fleeting shadow." But far too much breath was expended in this slow-burner with too many secondary characters and convoluted subplots, the most disgusting of which was the poisoning of fish on the beaches of Antwerp. This was a flat and uninspired film that, in the end, did not shed any significant light on the main topic of chemical weapons and contemporary Syria.
The gist of the film is the Mossad operation to locate evidence of a chemical plant used to manufacture horrific weapons of mass destruction to be used in Syria by the Assad regime. But the film is vague on the details of such an operation, and the best it can dredge up is some shaky photographic evidence.
Kingsley's character Avram Adereth teams up with a young partner named Daniel, who is the son of one of Adereth's closest friends and career spies. Adereth takes Daniel under his wing, and the two characters play a dangerous double game to locate the so-called Spider in the Web file that will be the "smoking gun" for the evidence of the chemical plants.
There is also a love interest in Adereth's passion for Dr. Angela Caroni, who claims to be an environmental activist. Angela becomes involved in the high-risk operation to steal the computer file Spider in the Web. Angela has perhaps the best line in the film when she tells Adereth, "You make love just the way you live life: in despair."
The main problem with the film was the overly complicated narrative strands and the static nature of the scenes. There is too much filler dialogue and too many long set speeches with Adereth waxing nostalgic about the past. Most of the action was occurring in the Netherlands, where the secrets about the chemical operation were allegedly located.
The film opens with an epigram from Psalms, "Man is like a breath. His days are but a fleeting shadow." But far too much breath was expended in this slow-burner with too many secondary characters and convoluted subplots, the most disgusting of which was the poisoning of fish on the beaches of Antwerp. This was a flat and uninspired film that, in the end, did not shed any significant light on the main topic of chemical weapons and contemporary Syria.
This was as bad as most Le Carre movies
mjdk226 December 2019
Long drawn out dialogues with no action whatsoever - unless you consider dialogue action. I am not sure what possessed Ben Kingsley to star in this mind numbingly boring movie - he could have done something more productive with his time such as mowing his lawn or cleaning his pool.
Boring,boring,boring...
tchitouniaram11 September 2019
inept and indigestible
pat-797-8690153 March 2020
Bad Bad Bad
peterdoc-3280520 December 2019
ben is much better than usual recently
ops-525351 September 2019
Not because its a good film or agood plot or a complete spy story as we grew up with in the 1980s, 1990s and the start of this century. no, ben is just simply the slick, eloquent, wellspoken and as usual iconic bawled headed eagle of silverscreen stardome, that awoke in my early movie theater seat , with his lead role as ghandi in the film ghandi that were acclaimed up to the stars and to infinity( a film that norwegian school boards found so groundbreaking, they made it compulsary to watch, and in buses we were shuffled to see this nearly 3 hour slow paced story about indias fiht for independence. as a middle schooler i was far too young for bald heads and cast-system).
its a spy movie, with lots of espionage and counterespionage, mossad,cia,mi-summasummarum or whatever and so on. a jumping jack of a story, that murders here and hugs there, and with fast shifting locations due to easy passing borders in the eu, and small distances between the metropolises of the lower countries, and its defeat and betrayal at all levels, even the two lead carachters the eagle and the finch has a fight in the end.
so the grumpy old man thinks its just one of them mediocre attempts to make a new generation of spy game movies, not with an amazing success this time, but ben is good. a grumpy recommend in the end.
its a spy movie, with lots of espionage and counterespionage, mossad,cia,mi-summasummarum or whatever and so on. a jumping jack of a story, that murders here and hugs there, and with fast shifting locations due to easy passing borders in the eu, and small distances between the metropolises of the lower countries, and its defeat and betrayal at all levels, even the two lead carachters the eagle and the finch has a fight in the end.
so the grumpy old man thinks its just one of them mediocre attempts to make a new generation of spy game movies, not with an amazing success this time, but ben is good. a grumpy recommend in the end.
Got wood?
liquidblacknight-9866729 August 2020
Monica Bellucci and Ben Kingsley are two very fine acting talents, I don't know why they give such a wooden performance.
What's really strange is that they act in similar manners, sort of strangely speaking in an unusual rhythm.
My guess is that everyone else in the movie spoke Hebrew and they're the only ones who didn't and the direction was done in Hebrew and translated badly.
It bears the hallmarks of an underdeveloped entertainment industry. Many parts reminded me of the worst done moments in 'False Flag', another Israeli production, although that was better by several dozen factors. Basically, avoid watching this if you can. It's not worth the two hours of your life it takes and never gives back.
It bears the hallmarks of an underdeveloped entertainment industry. Many parts reminded me of the worst done moments in 'False Flag', another Israeli production, although that was better by several dozen factors. Basically, avoid watching this if you can. It's not worth the two hours of your life it takes and never gives back.
Don't trust the bad ratings.
minunimion23 March 2020
An old school spy movie, with slow pace and emjoyable Kingsley acting.
scarlatov30 April 2020
If you do not like old school spy movies this one is not for you, if you do like them, then you will love it. Pros; The story is good and based on true events, the acting is great, the characters are well developed and there're is character depth. Cons: There were too many static scenes, I assume due to limited budget. The twist towards the end of the movie should be brought up 15 minutes earlier, as the closing scenes unfolded too fast compared to the overall pace of the movie, they could be further developed on the account of earlier stretched scenes. The directing and post-production/editing could have done much better. The same goes for music and sound effects which were not there. In a nut shell it is good but it could be a GREAT movie. A great spy movie on tight budget needs at least good editing and excellent sound and music. I enjoyed it but the mass public wont.
Life wasted
phatmanadams18 December 2019
This Web Fails to Stick!
spookyrat15 March 2020
There was probably a half-way decent story to be told here, but viewers get tied in knots getting to the conclusion of Spider in the Web. I blame the experienced director Eran Riklis, who just hasn't let the story unfold in a smooth flow and is responsible for the uneven pacing that plague this co-production which is supposedly based on real events (Yeah, sure!).
The movie actually starts and ends pretty well believe it or not. It's everything in between that gets (and vicariously us) jerked around.
Itay Tiran who plays Daniel a Mossard agent ordered to shadow an elderly agent, Arderath, played by Ben Kingsley, who was a close colleague of his deceased father, can't really act. He does a good job of doing heaps of chin-ups and jogging quite frequently, but he can't act, especially when required to go one on one with Sir Ben as often as is expected, during the course of this Le Carre wannabe, spy thriller (John Le Carre is even directly referenced by name early in proceedings.).
I always like seeing Monica Bellucci, but here (for a second lead) her character is almost criminally underused and underwritten. She appears spasmodically as a love interest for Adereth and we know she is more than a bed mate. But then she disappears for much of the film, whilst Sir Ben continues to wax lyrically and way too often, about the good old days of spying during a very l-o-n-g second act, where many scenes just seem to be repeated; E.G. Daniel jogging (And why does he suddenly break down and start crying after one particularly energetic run? Perhaps he wanted to get on with the actual espionage too.)
Things do pick up towards the end, as mentioned earlier. There is a sort of a twist and a quite nicely ironic ending, but by then the damage is really done. The material making up the narrative suffices at best for a 90 minute film, not one pushing out towards 115. Despite the always professional best efforts of Ben Kingsley, Spider in the Web, fails to fully entrap our attention.
The movie actually starts and ends pretty well believe it or not. It's everything in between that gets (and vicariously us) jerked around.
Itay Tiran who plays Daniel a Mossard agent ordered to shadow an elderly agent, Arderath, played by Ben Kingsley, who was a close colleague of his deceased father, can't really act. He does a good job of doing heaps of chin-ups and jogging quite frequently, but he can't act, especially when required to go one on one with Sir Ben as often as is expected, during the course of this Le Carre wannabe, spy thriller (John Le Carre is even directly referenced by name early in proceedings.).
I always like seeing Monica Bellucci, but here (for a second lead) her character is almost criminally underused and underwritten. She appears spasmodically as a love interest for Adereth and we know she is more than a bed mate. But then she disappears for much of the film, whilst Sir Ben continues to wax lyrically and way too often, about the good old days of spying during a very l-o-n-g second act, where many scenes just seem to be repeated; E.G. Daniel jogging (And why does he suddenly break down and start crying after one particularly energetic run? Perhaps he wanted to get on with the actual espionage too.)
Things do pick up towards the end, as mentioned earlier. There is a sort of a twist and a quite nicely ironic ending, but by then the damage is really done. The material making up the narrative suffices at best for a 90 minute film, not one pushing out towards 115. Despite the always professional best efforts of Ben Kingsley, Spider in the Web, fails to fully entrap our attention.
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