|
|
Photo © Paramount Vantage
|
|
A Mighty Heart
Drama; based on real life events
1 hr. 43 mins.
June 15th
MPAA:R for horror violence, some sexual content and language.
Paramount Vantage
|
|
|
Starring: Angelina Jolie, dan Futterman, Will Patton, Irrfan Khan
Directed By: Michael Winterbottom
Produced By: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Andrew Eaton
Screenplay By: John Orloff. Adapted from Mariane Pearl's:
|
|
|
Reviewed
By: Wellington Lee
Rated 2.8/5
Feature Review:Just 16 months after the horrific 9/11/01 attacks, the respected Wall Street Journal's South Asian bread chief
Daniel(Danny)Pearl(Futterman),was set up and kidnapped, while pursuing an interview with an elusive, radical Islamic
Sheik(Gilani).The story is based on the autobiographical account by Danny's wife Mariane(Jolie), a French
journalist. Mariane was also working a story in Karachi Pakistan, and was carrying(6 mos.) their first, male child.
Dir. Winterbottom and screenwriter Coriat, throw us documentary style, into that remarkable January 23rd, 2002 day. Danny
and Mariane scurry around that frenetic city, finishing up their interviews. They anticipate a sojourn in the renowned
Arab
playground and retail showplace: Dubai.The movie's structure cuts back and forth between their parallel days, with
Mariane’s and Indian journalist friend Asra's frustrating cell telephone attempts, to reach the now incommunicado Danny.
In only one false beat to an otherwise brilliant performance, Jolie seems too preoccupied, do early in that busy day. They
planned, and Mariane goes through with, a farewell dinner party. There is a enlightening scene, where local journalist
friends, talk amicably about Western journalists NOT getting their culture/religion. Dir.Winterbottom eschews rehearsals,
favoring spontaneity from the actors, and flexibility from his crew.
He is known for an authentic, culturally balanced style vs. a dramatic manipulation of viewer's emotions. This is true in
the Road to Guantanamo('06), when 4 young, British/Pakistani tourists attending a wedding, were 'rendered' and tortured ,
in
that U.S. island prison for enemy combatants. The top leadership(Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz et al) takes the hits, more than the
military and civilian interrogators.
In "..Heart", the lower ranking officials, from Karachi's Police/citizen liaison, to the U.S. Consul's security agent
Randall Bennett(Patton:"Remember the Titans"),show concern and warn Pearl to meet Sheik Gilani, in public only. The most
sympathetic Pakistani character, is the fine actor Irrfan Khan(the Father in "The Namesake").He aptly portrays the
plainclothes, military counter intelligence captain and "boot" in charge. Khan works in partnership with the Journal's
reporters and Mariane. Khan(as the "Captain") has a couple of touching scenes, showing his empathy yet professionalism,
with the pregnant, but spunky wife. There are a few too many scenes of the wide net of "roundups";and a scene or two
hinting at the reported harsh interrogations, in that part of the world.
Jolie for her part, is perfectly cast and portrays, the pluck of the veteran, foreign correspondent(French).She easily
conjures up the building frustration and anguished sobs, of the distraught wife. Photographer Zyskind and Winterbottom,
shoot these scenes in darkened rooms to allow, rather than to dramatize, Mariane's anguish to permeate the theater.
The 2nd act drags, and it is difficult to follow some of the suspects and frenetic investigation. Several of the cut away
shots to every day street scenes, regardless of their lighting or appropriateness, are repetitively edited(Peter
Christelis)in.
"A Mighty Heart" is a downer, if you are simply looking to see Jolie. If you like gritty authentic drama/crime styling in
exotic locations; if you are open to the tense recounting of a personal tragedy in this Middle East vs. West, struggle of
radicals vs secular and open civilization; then this A- work, is not to be missed.
|
|
|
Questions & Feedback |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
(Click
here for more movie reviews)
|
|
|
