MOVIE OF THE WEEK
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Universal Pictures, Relativity Media and Working Title Productions present an R rated, 115 minute action, drama, thriller, war film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Matt Damon (Chief Roy Miller), Greg Kinnear (Clark Poundstone), Brendan Gleeson (Martin Brown), Amy Ryan (Lawrie Dayne), Yigal Naor (Al Rawi), Khalid Abdalla (Freddy) and Said Faraj (Seyyed Hamza), Aymen Hamdouchi (Ayad Hamza), Nicoye Banks (Perry), Jerry Della Salla (Wilkins), Sean Huze (Conway), Jason Isaacs (Briggs) with Michael Dwyer, Edouard H.R. Gluck, Brain Siefkes, Adam Wendling, Abdul Henderson, Paul Karsko, Robert Miller (All MET D).
The story begins in Baghdad, March 19, 2003, during the Iraq war. Four weeks later Chief Roy Miller is searching target areas for WMD's, weapons of mass destruction. The press is scattered throughout, including Lawrie Dayne, who happens to be an important piece in this thriller, and the whole world is watching and asking where are the weapons? Chief Miller questions also why they cannot find weapons but is immediately put in his place, told to execute his job and not ask questions. When he starts to smell something bad amongst his orders he befriends Martin Brown with the CIA in hopes of finding out why things aren't right with his orders and all of their sites are turning up empty.
Saddam is now out of his authority and America forces, rookies at that, are now in control of Iraq in hopes of creating a democracy by bringing in an exiled leader. Miller puts his confidence in a local civilian, Freddy, who brings news of Saddam's General, Al Rawi, having a secret meeting in a local residence nearby. Miller decides to enlist Freddy as his translator and break out from his duties and take action in his own hands by raiding the meeting. Guns fire, people killed, Iraqi's taken hostage and a book that lays out facts about the truths and whereabouts of answers to hidden questions is revealed. One in particular leading up to Magellan, the source behind the reasons for the attack on Iraq.
Poundstone with the Pentagon Special Intelligence is hiding something making Miller question if he and his officials are all on the same side! Brown questions just how naive Miller is and overall really just how naive is the world! In the end the race is on between good and evil as both sides discover who the source is, both wanting to track this person down for two totally different reasons. One to hide the truth, Briggs, the other to reveal the wrong, Miller, but little do they realize that the one closest to them may hold the fate in this deck of cards. Was the Iraq war a new beginning, freedom for its people or just a lie that has found a new source of truth in the news!
Greengrass has really taken a subject near and dear to many people in the world and turned it into an intriguing conspiracy theory that of course tends to reflect true life then, now and possibly in the future. The writing modes well with the reflection of the war although some of the cast seemed a bit misplaced in their roles, Kinnear especially. A quote from Freddy in the film says it all, "It is not for you to decide what happens here", as he speaks to Miller and the American soldiers. That line speaks volumes to the film and reality. The cinematography was brilliant with the use of CGI effects along with the use of raw and sometimes gritty moments in the story that flash by with fast pans of the cameras.
Damon, pictured in the movie poster once again does a great job as the star and action hero in this story as he searches to reveal the truth about the American invasion on Iraq. Although Kinnear does a decent job I believe he is much more admired when he sticks to romantic comedies. Gleeson does not a huge role but pulled it off well as did the majority of the other characters in the film. The story is not unfamiliar to the big screen but Greengrass tends to keep it moving with good action, suspense and conspiracy to at least make it exciting and worthy of a ticket at the box office. Hats off to Damon who once again proves he is worthy of the title, action star.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.
