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This film actually works. The thrill in thriller is there and it gets more interesting as it goes along. All the elements that are good in a film are snugly put together and are made believable with plenty of real emotion. Our director Kevin Macdonald, also known for his direction on The Last King of Scotland (2006), works extremely hard not to overblow the characterizations that we sometime see when intensity and stressful situations become present. Russell Crow plays his part well because he feels comfortable playing an almost spitting image of what he would be in real life if he were actually this character in real life. I'm sure its hard to know how to play himself anyway since he has lived an extremely interesting life through film. How would I say that Crowe fits into this typical self appoint role as a newspaper report and pull it off? You know the type; the sloppy dresser, the chili cheese dog and hamburger combo orderer, the messy house, the disorder that normal people's lives revolve around because it appeases their on sense control and comfort. His characterization takes on a real life meaning to him when Crow sings along with the song "The Night That Paddy Murphy Dies" in the opening scene of the film. The song is by Great Big Sea, a band from Newfoundland, Canada. Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea's lead singer, and Russell Crowe are known to be close friends. In previous years, Crowe has been spotted numerous times visiting the province of Newfoundland. I was also completely impressed with the level of acting Helen Mirren, who played the Washington Post Managing Editor Cameron Lynne, was able to put on film with only 4 days of working on the set. That was the pinnacle of setting the tone for this film. Her hard nose approach to Cal MaCaffrey was on only upstaged by the fact that his professionalism in getting to the truth was embedded in his character regardless of brash ultimatums and unrealistic deadlines to produce a viable breaking press release. ***************************** S P O I L E R ****************************** Although it was a wonderfully exciting resolution to wrapping up a tense film. Cal walks away from the article as she saws "Aren't you going to send it?" Cal tells Della that she can hit "Send", which insinuates that he wants her to feel good about helping bust the story wide open. However, by ostensibly sending the day's lead story direct to the composition room of a major metropolitan paper without anyone else editing the copy and scanning for misspellings and grammatical errors is totally fantasy. We have to then assume that they must know that Cal is so good at his job that he has never made a mistake such as this ever before, therefore, the assumption makes his character larger than life. The article basically said, "3 Deaths Tied to Gulf War Army Associate New evidence links Rep. Stephen Collins with the suspect in the killings of three people, including Sonia baker, the congressman's political researcher. When confronted by the Washington Globe with information tying him to suspect Robert Bingham, Collins admitted he had directed his former Army associate to follow Baker after learning that she was secretly on the payroll of military contractor PointCorp. Collins, the chairman of the committee investigating PointCorp's government deals, said he authorized Bingham only "to observe" Baker. "He just did it," Collins said of Bingham. "He seemed more upset about what she was doing than I was."Read full review
I like Russell Crowe's acting and I have many of his movies. I found the story line on this one a bit confusing on the first view several years ago. Each time I view it i get more of the plot details. I'm not sure whether I will ever be satisfied that all the sub plots have been appreciated by me, but I'll keep watching it when the spirit moves me until I think I got it all. Very entertaining.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great cast. Ben Affleck, Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Robin Wright Penn and Jason Bateman. A really great thriller.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a very good action & intrigue movie. I enjoyed it very much.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The characters are totally engaging. The story has twists and turns. Unexpected ending.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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