Paramount Vantage with Plan B Entertainment and Revolution Films present a 100 minute R rated film directed by Michael Winterbottom and starring Angelina Jolie (Mariane Pearl), Dan Futterman (Daniel Pearl), Archie Panjabi (Asra Q. Nomani), Mohammed Afzal (Shabir), Telal Saeed (Kaleem Yusuf), Saira Khan (Nasrin), Aliya Khan (Kashva), Azfar Ali (Azfar), Ahmed A. Jamal (Khawaja), Denis O'Hare (John Bussey), Perrine Moran (Ruth Pearl), Jeffry Kaplow (Judea Pearl), Ishaque Ahmed (Arif), Aly Khan (Omar/Bashir), Irfan Khan (Captain), Will Patton (Randall Bennett), Jillian Armenante (Maureen Platt), Demetri Goritsas (John Skelton), Amy Shindler (Michelle Pearl), Amy Rosenthal (Tamara Pearl), Ikram Bhatti (Sheikh Gilani) and Taj Khan (Suleiman).
The movie follows the travels of Mariane and Danny Pearl after September 11th to the month of January 2002 as they pursue a life as journalists in Pakistan. Mariane at this time is five months pregnant with their first child. Danny a journalist for the Wall Street Journal is working on a potential interview with Sheikh Gilani. American journalists in Pakistan seem to be referred to by many in this country as working for the CIA. Danny happens to be Jewish which also happens to be a religion frowned upon by many of the Pakistani people. Even though they try to live their lives with the freedoms of the culture they are looked upon by some with the eyes of villains.
When Danny turns up missing the story line evolves around the pursuit of his whereabouts and the reasons behind his kidnapping. Not until January 27th do the captors of Danny reveal an announcement that they believe he is CIA and they want better treatment for the captives being held at Guantamo Bay in Cuba in return for his release. As members of the Journal, local police, and US government officials get involved in the search for answers, calls are traced, computers are confiscated, cab drivers are interrogated, any possible path that Danny may have taken is pursued.
On January 30th, Mariane with an honor of integrity makes a plea for Danny's safe return on international television explaining his reasons for being in Pakistan, their relationship with each other and the life they both led as journalists. Many sleepless nights envelop Mariane and since she has no way of reaching him she constantly sends him a text of "I love you" to help ease her pain in hopes that maybe he can receive them.
There are so many characters in this film, so many conversations going on along with some subtitles, and so many camera angles that make it seem a bit confusing at times. Somewhat playing out like a brilliantly scored documentary, it will probably keep the main stream audience away at least until it arrives on DVD but for the more political and educated it may be a film of choice. Many of the reasons for Danny's disappearance are speculated throughout the writing but in the end the main reason is given and the majority of the right players in his horrific video taped murder are revealed. As most of us know Danny was beheaded and his body was scattered into ten pieces. He was 38 years old, a graduate of Stamford and worked for the Wall Street Journal since 1990.
Jolie is astounding in her role as Mariane and I am sure she will be given a nod for the golden boy when the Academy Awards come about. She not only looks the part of the main character but draws you into her inner thoughts and feelings of anger at the loss of Danny to her happiness of flashbacks when she spent so many joyful moments with him alive. From death comes birth and in this case not to long after Danny's death a son by the name of Adam was born in which this film is dedicated.
It's been said that the news media in this country gives too much information making it available to any walk of life out to seek terror on Americans. According to Webster's Dictionary the description of the word "terror" is to be afraid, a state of intense fear and "terrorism" is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. When an American enters another country and is subjected to this act it is giving the terrorist exactly what they are looking for. Sad that these descriptions also point the finger in our own country amongst people of ethnic nature, religious belief or even sexual orientation. Maybe everyone needs to accept the chances of cross cultural diversity through media, speech and music and one day maybe this world will unite. It's a nice thought but based on the direction this world is going it seems almost impossible.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.