IN BRIEF: Very good acting enhances this true story about injustice.
JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) stands accused of terrorism and defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) fight for his freedom in Kevin McDonald's impassioned but slightly flawed film, The Mauritanian. After being detained and imprisoned without charges in Guantánamo Bay Priso by the U. S. government for years, their case and cover-up finally goes to trial with some surprising turns of events.
The Mauritanian is based on a true story and director Kevin McDonald skillfully depicts a series of chain events that led to Slahi's capture and imprisonment. The screenplay by M. B. Traven, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani has some compelling dialog and strong conformational set pieces, but it is a tad choppy with out-of-sequence flashbacks providing his backstory. These scenes tend to slow down the film's pacing and serve more as sub-plot than needed exposition. Whenever the film stays focused on the investigation and its legal maneuverings, the movie excels with its two standout performances by the lead actors.
Mr. Rahim is excellent in his well-written part. We watch his strength and disillusion shift and he delivers a harrowing portrayal of man tortured and accused. Ms. Foster is commanding in her no-nonsense role as his crusader, a woman more concerned with the law than her client's morality. Their attorney/client moments together are superb and help to build interest in this legal drama. Both are worthy of award consideration.
Some of the supporting characters, while well acted by Shailene Woodley, Zachary Lev, and Benedict Cumberbatch as the prosecuting lawyer, seem stereotypical products of that era of terrorist activities and national paranoia: the gung-ho military soldiers, the liberal-minded defense attorneys, the innocent or not so-innocent client,, the questioning prosecutor, etc. But the basic scenario of injustice rings true and gives moviegoers a gripping drama.
Director Mr. McDonald does not shy away from the intense scenes of sound deprivation sexual humiliation, and waterboarding techniques which were a part of his stay there. (The film is not for the squeamish.) To the filmmaker's credit, he also never confirms Slahi's guilt or innocence of the criminal accusations, although he does place the blame for his illegal confinement solely with the US Government. One wishes the film contained more courtroom scenes than investigative ones. This could have shed more light on the case and its characters.
The Mauritanian is a strong cinematic plea for tolerance and justice to prevail in our legal system. It is an important film worth viewing.
JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) stands accused of terrorism and defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) fight for his freedom in Kevin McDonald's impassioned but slightly flawed film, The Mauritanian. After being detained and imprisoned without charges in Guantánamo Bay Priso by the U. S. government for years, their case and cover-up finally goes to trial with some surprising turns of events.
The Mauritanian is based on a true story and director Kevin McDonald skillfully depicts a series of chain events that led to Slahi's capture and imprisonment. The screenplay by M. B. Traven, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani has some compelling dialog and strong conformational set pieces, but it is a tad choppy with out-of-sequence flashbacks providing his backstory. These scenes tend to slow down the film's pacing and serve more as sub-plot than needed exposition. Whenever the film stays focused on the investigation and its legal maneuverings, the movie excels with its two standout performances by the lead actors.
Mr. Rahim is excellent in his well-written part. We watch his strength and disillusion shift and he delivers a harrowing portrayal of man tortured and accused. Ms. Foster is commanding in her no-nonsense role as his crusader, a woman more concerned with the law than her client's morality. Their attorney/client moments together are superb and help to build interest in this legal drama. Both are worthy of award consideration.
Some of the supporting characters, while well acted by Shailene Woodley, Zachary Lev, and Benedict Cumberbatch as the prosecuting lawyer, seem stereotypical products of that era of terrorist activities and national paranoia: the gung-ho military soldiers, the liberal-minded defense attorneys, the innocent or not so-innocent client,, the questioning prosecutor, etc. But the basic scenario of injustice rings true and gives moviegoers a gripping drama.
Director Mr. McDonald does not shy away from the intense scenes of sound deprivation sexual humiliation, and waterboarding techniques which were a part of his stay there. (The film is not for the squeamish.) To the filmmaker's credit, he also never confirms Slahi's guilt or innocence of the criminal accusations, although he does place the blame for his illegal confinement solely with the US Government. One wishes the film contained more courtroom scenes than investigative ones. This could have shed more light on the case and its characters.
The Mauritanian is a strong cinematic plea for tolerance and justice to prevail in our legal system. It is an important film worth viewing.