I really haven't been a fan of Angelina Jolie as an actress. Okay, as a mom and humanitarian she seems pretty cool. And she's gorgeous. But as an actress? Well, her turns as action heroes (Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) left me less than impressed and is a Best Supporting Actress Oscar (Girl, Interrupted) all that difficult to obtain when acting opposite Winona Ryder? That gal makes anyone look like a Dame Judy Dench by comparison. Sooo, I didn't have high hopes for this ambitious project (Angelina went after this one like Madonna after Evita...) Okay, so it was a pleasant surprise that Angelina more than does justice to the film.Of course this is the Daniel Pearl story from the perspective of Marianne Pearl, and based on her book. Daniel, a journalist with the Wall Street Journal, was kidnapped in Pakistan in January, 2002. The film follows his 6 months pregnant wife as she, Pakistani law enforcement and the FBI desperately try to piece together what actually happened to Daniel and to find him. It's a harrowing account of great personal courage in the face of terrible odds and a widow's gift to her son... a true legacy to his father and his belief that the truth is what sets us free.
It's a hard film to watch; even knowing the tragic ending in advance the tension and desperation of the dedicated folks who tried to save Daniel's life is palpable. And Jolie is masterful both in her anger and her grief. Irrfan Khan (The Namesake) is impeccable as the captain in charge of the Pakistani investigation. All in all this is a moving account of a heinous crime, the realities of a world where the rules never seem clear anymore, and continued faith in humanity. Well done.
See the excellent website here, and don't miss the memoriam for the 230 journalists who have lost their lives in the pursuit of truth from 2002-2007.
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2 comments:
Saying Winona Ryder is a bad actor is just simply absurd! She is one of the most diverse and quirky/unique actors of her generation! She is a two time oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner! Moreover, in my opinion the subtlety of her performance in 'Girl, Interrupted' outshined Anglina's and she should've been nominated for that film too! She was brillant as Susana Kaysen! Winona Ryder is a great, great actor and she will always be regardless of whether 'some' people know it or not!
Hey, Anonymous - perhaps your great, great actor got better after her little stint as shoplifter... maybe, that was method? But I find her nearly unwatchable... To each their own...
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