the writer-director Zack Whedon toggles his plot between "Out of the Past" and "Three Days of the Condor" with highly mixed results before letting loose with a hilariously unconvincing climactic reveal
even with several contrivances in the movie's final third, this remains a taut, haunting ride thanks to solid writing and directing by Zack Whedon (Joss and Jed's younger brother) and a strong, sympathetic performance by Paul