| Proof of Life |
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| 1/2 |
| Rating: Mixed Distributor: Warner Brothers MPAA Rating: R Running Length: 2 hours, 12 minutes Release Date: December 8th, 2000 (wide) Genre: Action/Adventure, Thriller Director: Taylor Hackford Cast: Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe, David Morse, Pamela Reed, and David Caruso. |
| picture above from proofoflife.warnerbros.com |
| Plot: A kidnap and randsom negotiater (Russell Crowe) is called into to help a wife (Meg Ryan) find her husband (David Morse) after he is rounded up with about 20 people in a terrorist attack, on a road. They are in a Middle East country on business. The husband was supposed to build a dam, and he'd be financed by an oild company that plans to use it. The group who abducted him, a group that once had better ambitions now sells cocaine. They believe that they will get a lot of money from him because they think the oil company is rich enough to pay them millions. Little do they know, the company could not only care less about the man they kidnapped, but the company is also going out of business. |
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| Critique: Proof of Life is a very well photographed, sometimes entertaining, but in the end hollow effort. The film is hollow for several reasons, but most prominently because the characters are written terribly thin. Also, the script seems to be limited in general in creating a story that we really want to follow. Several times I felt myself drifting off, becoming distracted, and missing several scenes. That's not necessarily the film's fault by any means, it could have been the mood I was in, or how much sleep I got, thus becoming tired. Yet, I was sure I had gotten enough sleep and wasn't in a particularly unusual mood. Of course, you can still get the full impact of a film if you miss scenes here and there. My point is, however, that I didn't care at all that I missed the scenes, and I was even willing to drift off again. The film just wan't very interesting, and even a little juvenile in concept and execution. What saved the film was the top notch cinematography that I mentioned before, as well as mildly amusing action throughout the film. The deepest flaw of all may have been the failed romantic factor between Russell Crowe's character and Meg Ryan's. There is supposed to be an attraction between them that complicates the mission to get the husband back. That factor really isn't there as much as the filmmaker's would like. The relationship isn't given enough detail and information. More troubling, Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan spark no on screen chemistry. It really takes a bite out of the film's impact. Taylor Hackford did a good job in direction, but it may have been partially his fault that the two stars were not able to be believable. Proof of Life has some mildly enjoyable action, and sports stunning photography. Yet it is hollow, and delivers no chemistry between its two leads. The film is an unsuccessful, if noble effort. I don't recommend this average, uncompelling action flick. review by supernothingman |