Atomic Blonde (directed by David Letch) is based on the 2012 Graphic novel The Coldest City. The film starts off with Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) rising out of an ice-cold bath, which not only presents her as a subject of sex appeal but also gives her character a sense of mystery and intrigue. ‘Atomic’ does not apply exclusively to her badass fighting style, but her badass fashion style as well; while she beats the bad guys in Berlin to a bloody pulp, she makes sure she looks fantastic doing so. There is so much silent fashion underlying the motives of each character in this film, that it is sometimes overlooked by the constant action.
Despite the bruised face and body that Broughton sports at the beginning of the film, she looks anything but unfashionable in black pants and vest over a white button-down. While this seems like any ordinary work outfit, the context in which Broughton wears it emphasizes her personal sophistication, taste, and flair. Ironically, the purpose of many of her different looks is to give her anonymity and protect her identity, yet the superb style makes her look stunning, which does the opposite of the clothes’ intended function. For instance, at one point she sports a white coat, black long turtleneck with a white zigzag design in the center that can cover most of her face, black leather gloves & thigh-high leather sneakers, which seems like an unforgettable outfit to me, even with the partially covered face.
David Percival (James McAvoy) is one of my personal favorite characters due to his ability to embody multiple people in one role. He begins the film with an edgy yet casual undercover personality that fits in with the colloquial Eastern European setting, where he appears in an abandoned-warehouse-turned-nightclub waiting for very important information. In his next scene, he flips his personality from undercover to in-your-face, hopping out of a Porsche in a moody grey military coat, a v-neck sweater under a fur jacket, blue denim, and worn in cowboy boots. With this use of colors together, his presence is already loud before the action even starts.
Delphine (Sofia Boutella), Broughton's lover, enters the film from a distance watching Broughton in her Red leather coat and black gloves. In the intense night club scene which leads to the bedroom, fashion is everything, from clothes to lingerie, even the furniture and decor. The use of lingerie and black in the love-making between her and Lorraine Broughton was a very effective and potent decision, really evoking the exact feeling of what is happening in the scene. Overall, the distinct flair of the fashion matched with the high-speed action of the film keeps your eyes glued to the screen from start to finish.