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Rendition
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Rated R
Violence, Torture and Language
1 of 4 Stars
Starring:
Reese Witherspoon, Omar Metwally, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Alan Arkin
Directed by: Gavin Hood
Reviewed By: Brother Joe (Joe Drazich)
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Isabella El-Ibrahimi played by (Reese Witherspoon) is married to Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar
Metwally) and expecting their 2nd child. Anwar an Egyptian born engineer had been in the U.
S. for 20 years and while returning from a conference in South Africa was suspected as a
terrorist involved in a recent bombing and illegally detained by U.S. Special forces and flown
to a third world country where he was beaten and tortured.
When Anwar failed to return home, Isabella started a frantic search for her husband,
soliciting the help from an old friend, Alan Smith (Peter Sarsgaard) who is the personal aide
for Senator Hawkins, (Alan Arkin). As the story unwinds, it reveals the acts of terrorism and
it’s affects in the lives of those involved.
I wasn’t impressed by the movie or the performances by most of the actors. The storyline
was weak and very slow at times and definitely left wing and to me, defined the terrorists as
compassionate, God loving martyrs, portraying the U.S. to be cynical, unjustified torturers of
the innocent, save, Douglas Freeman, played by (Jake Gyllenhaal) who eventually comes to
his senses as a CIA appointed observer of the torture to Anwar and gives the audience the
Jack Bauer shuffle and saves the day.
I asked myself the question, “would this movie lift the spirits of those defending our country
today as they watched it and is this an uplifting message to those outside of the U.S. as to
the character of our citizens or political leaders”? (NOT)! This movie does however take the
viewers down the same path as our media which is to show the dark side of our political
leaders and those entrusted to protect our beloved country.
Warning to Parents
Not a good flick for younger movie goers. Violence and a nude scene as Anwar El-Ibrahimi
is being tortured (although the camera only gets a good look at his bare backside), bad
language (not excessive) and some sexual content.
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