A well crafted (as you would expect from an Oscar winning director) political/military thriller...and that was all for me. The last 30 minutes were superbly thrilling and shot but there was a whole 2 hours before that.
Having watched Homeland on TV, I felt this film was very much of the same ilk. The main difference being that Homeland portrays the ethics and ambiguity of the situation a little more deftly. I don't agree with those that say this film is pro-torture but it definitely doesn't criticise the US tactics either. This film sits on the fence but it definitely has it feet dangling on the CIA side.
I felt the film lacked the human touch. Maya is deliberately aloof (we never even know her surname) and I found myself desperately clambering for any info on her. Little is given...no boyfriend, recruited into the CIA straight from school. A glimpse of her computer screen wallpaper shows her looking happy with a child. It is hard to find her motive. Incidents and losses along the way seem to propel her and when it is all over the question "Where do you want to go?" prompts her to break down in tears. But I found it hard to sympathise having not known where she has come from. Chastain plays her competently.
6/10
Bang on review. Hard to invest time with someone so one-dimensionally focussed if you don't have a backstory. The word is that her character and Carrie in Homeland are based on the same person. Wouldn't like to meet her at airport security.
ReplyDeleteGripping final act - but i was a bit non-plussed by then
6/10