Wasp Network (2020)

Wasp Network has the rare allure of a spy thriller that also feels like a lived-in slice of history, pulling you into the heat and moral fog of early-’90s Havana and Miami with sleek, confident filmmaking. It’s powered by a talented cast that makes every glance and half-truth feel loaded, so even quiet conversations carry the tension of a ticking device. The cinematography gives the story a textured, sunlit realism—beautiful to look at, but never comfortable—while the pacing keeps it entertaining without turning its politics into a lecture. It isn’t a perfectly balanced film, and if you want clear heroes and villains you may find it thorny, but if you like smart, engaging intrigue with a fresh perspective on Cuban history, it’s an easy recommendation.

Wasp Network is clearly aiming for a tense, politically charged espionage drama that captures the chaos of 1990s Cuba-to-Miami conflict and the personal fallout of divided loyalties. The problem is it tries to cover so much ground that the story often turns into a jumble of shifting characters and agendas, with pacing that lurches and emotions that don’t get the time they need to land. If you like clean, character-driven thrillers with a strong through-line, this may feel disjointed and oddly distant, and the political framing can come off as one-sided depending on your perspective. That said, the cast brings commitment and there are flashes of intrigue, but you’ll need patience for a messy, scope-over-clarity approach.