Overall Rating:*****
Proof of Life @ IMDB
Synopsis:
When a project director for a major oil company gets kidnapped, his wife, with the aid of a hostage retrieval expert, plays a deadly game with terrorists out to make a buck. Terry Thorne (Russel Crowe) makes a living saving hostages. When he gets called in to help Alice Bowman (Meg Ryan) negotiate the release of her husband (David Morse), he breaks the first rule of the business: Don’t make it personal.
Review:
I first saw this movie back in 2003. Some movies need to grow on you, but this one doesn’t have that problem. Solid acting and brilliant plot make this a strong film. This film proves that with a little bit of everything, you can make a great movie. Proof of Life has action, suspense, romance, drama, and mystery. Its got it all and it pulls it together.
Though I am not a fan of romance in most movies, it really was a critical component of this movie. Most films use it as window-dressing, something you need, but doesn’t really have a greater purpose. As I write, I realize that I have to be a little careful. Because the romance is a critical component, discussing it in too much detail would ruin the story. I’m not giving anything away that the DVD case doesn’t already. Alice and Terry start falling for each other. To say more might spoil the story. Simply trust me when I say that the evolving romance ultimately defines each character.
Russel Crowe and Meg Ryan do an excellent job. I’ve always considered Crowe a strong actor and this is a perfect proof. Terry comes across as cool, calculated and honorable, yet emotional involved and sympathetic. There is a good balance here, because this character’s believability is critical to the success of the movie. Meg Ryan does a good job as well as an emotionally distraught Alice. We see a change as Alice starts trusting Terry and becoming more courageous. I guess that I should mention David Morse as well. Not a bad job on his part, but his character more of a vehicle for the story than it is a defining atribute. Of course, an actor is only as good as the lines they are given to read. Kudos to the writers here. No cheesy lines which is a big plus in my opinion.
There are a few dissappointments with the film. First, there is a brief scene where Terry interacts with his son. I think they could have done a bit more with this. There some conversation about the boy, but there is obviously untapped potential here in terms of character development. Not a fatal flaw by a long shot. The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Alice’s husband could have been a litte more difficult to solve. I know its not the main point of the movie, but more mystery is always more suspenseful.
I’d say you have to go out and rent Proof of Life. I liked it so much I bought it. If nothing else, the ending is worth the rental price. Definitely worth watching.