|
RATING: 2/5
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Alan Arkin, Meryl Streep, J.K. Simmons, Omar Metwally
Director: Gavin Hood
Genre: Drama
MPAA: rated R for torture/violence and language. ZIRH - #1 in men's skin care and shaving Parental Guide:
Nudity: PG equivalent; brief scene of male nudity
Profanity: R equivalent; approx. 10 “F” word. PG equivalent; approx 15 profanities
Sex: None
Violence: R equivalent; bloodshed, suicide bombing, torture
Other: PG-13 equivalent; drug content
“The CIA calls it ‘extraordinary rendition’. It started under Clinton. The agency wanted to be able to move suspected terrorists without having to formally apply for extradition. Now, it’s supposed to be used only under extraordinary circumstances. But after 9/11, it took on a whole new life. Basically, the government has authorized the seizure and transfer of anyone they suspect of being involved in terrorism to secret prisons outside of the U.S.” While returning home from Africa Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally), an Egyptian chemical engineer, is apprehended by the CIA, thrown into a prison and tortured for answers regarding a recent suicide bombing. Meanwhile, a worried wife (Reese Witherspoon) wonders why her husband hasn’t returned and a Middle East CIA operative (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins questioning U.S policies. Rendition is another of the many recent films on the War against Terrorism. Like the 2007 release In the Valley of Elah (Tommy Lee Jones in an Oscar nominated performance) Rendition communicates it’s political views, this one frowning on the National Security policy, specifically on Extraordinary Rendition and torture. There’s potential here but it is never explored. Rendition makes a proposal to audiences, wanting us to buy its forceful views on anti-national security, specifically torture, without diving into the true aftermaths, the consequences of these tactics. The film claims that if we torture one, we have made potentially a hundred enemies. It also notes that because of our security policies there are 7,000 people alive in London today who would otherwise be dead. But this is the extent of it. The remaining 2-hours focus is on a wife frantically looking for her husband, a terrorist camp organizing an attack and a CIA operative having a crisis of conscience. New Rollbacks on Select Disney DVDs Now Only $11.97 Each at Walmart.com
Netflix lets you rent, watch and return DVDs from home - Try free for 2 weeks Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) portrays Middle East CIA operative Douglas Freeman who begins questioning the tactics used in obtaining answers from his prisoner. “In all the years you’ve been doing this how often can you say that we’ve produced truly legitimate intelligence?” Douglas Freeman’s conscious is surfacing: “This is my first torture.” In 2006 Reese Witherspoon won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Walk the Line. While the potential exists for Witherspoon, she definitely did not duplicate her 2005 efforts this time around. In addition to Witherspoon, we have a very rigid unlikable Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), a mediocre Jake Gyllenhaal (Zodiac), the always reliable Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) and a compelling Peter Sarsgaard (Year of the Dog). Rendition tackles a challenging topic, one which is the theme of numerous debates (not a discussion you have at the water cooler), and in the end leaves audiences still in the same political stance—there is no depth here, only sugarcoating, only gently touching the surface; nothing that might alter ones stance on the topic. As a film making a stand against rendition it’s irrelevant; as a film about a wife looking for husband it’s mildly entertaining.
Recommended Articles:
|
