• ⇤
• ⇽
• ≡
• ⇾
• ⇥

movie review - Proof of Life

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is an overly realistic portrait of life in the wild and woolly corners of the world where hard-working imperialist corporate scum gets kidnapped by equally scummy drug lords and desperados. Set in a mythical South American country, it details the life and times of a kidnappee taken by the gangsters, his wife, and her love interest, the man hired to negotiate the kidnappee's release. Good but not great. Crowe seems held back in his performance, like he's not happy to be in the film. And why the hell would Crowe and Ryan get romantically involved? It made no sense.

I did appreciate the ruthlessly true-feeling portrayal of warfare, for once.

I've never understood why the always-underrated David Morse never plays the lead. He's good, certainly better than the roles he gets (though this one does him justice).

Recommended.