The truth, it's said, is often stranger than fiction. "Rendition" reminds us that the truth is often also scarier.
For any viewers of conscience, who are concerned at developments on the world stage since the early 1990s and even prior, this movie provides much food for thought as it deals with the very disturbing themes of government-sponsored kidnapping and detention-without-trial. It's essentially an essay on the innocent victims of America's escalating post-9/11 paranoia and Oscar-winning South African director Gavin Hood restrains himself admirably to avoid a presentation that is overly preachy.
Aided by a calm screenplay, he offers, wisely, a dispassionate account of the impacts and aftermath of an unfortunate mistake made in the wake of a terrible event. The story revolves around Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally), an Egyptian-born chemical engineer on his way home to his family in America who is mistakenly assumed to be involved in a terrorist bombing that claims the lives of 19 civilians and, critically, 1 American.
He is abducted by mysterious government forces upon touchdown in Washington and 48 hours later is being brutally interrogated in an Egyptian hell-hole of a prison. The film is constructed as a set of parallel dramas unfolding around El-Ibrahimi's torture and offers a jolting twist which underscores the film's central message about the danger of misleading assumptions.
The cast is superb, and not only the "big Hollywood" names like Meryl Streep, Alan Aarkin, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon , but also the lesser known actors portraying the "ethnic" roles.
In fact, in keeping with the theme of Hood's disciplined restraint, I was particularly impressed that he resisted the temptation to focus on the stars, and decided rather to coax truly excellent performances from his unknown actors. Yigal Naor, as the relentless torturer, and Omar Metwally, as the terrified and confused El-Ibrahimi, deliver captivating turns replete with substance and authenticity.
The film does have a few flaws, like insufficient integration of the plot threads, but this is a minor criticism in an otherwise strong and instructive movie.
Keep a very close eye on director Gavin Hood though, as I'm convinced we have yet to see his best work.
For any viewers of conscience, who are concerned at developments on the world stage since the early 1990s and even prior, this movie provides much food for thought as it deals with the very disturbing themes of government-sponsored kidnapping and detention-without-trial. It's essentially an essay on the innocent victims of America's escalating post-9/11 paranoia and Oscar-winning South African director Gavin Hood restrains himself admirably to avoid a presentation that is overly preachy.
Aided by a calm screenplay, he offers, wisely, a dispassionate account of the impacts and aftermath of an unfortunate mistake made in the wake of a terrible event. The story revolves around Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally), an Egyptian-born chemical engineer on his way home to his family in America who is mistakenly assumed to be involved in a terrorist bombing that claims the lives of 19 civilians and, critically, 1 American.
He is abducted by mysterious government forces upon touchdown in Washington and 48 hours later is being brutally interrogated in an Egyptian hell-hole of a prison. The film is constructed as a set of parallel dramas unfolding around El-Ibrahimi's torture and offers a jolting twist which underscores the film's central message about the danger of misleading assumptions.
The cast is superb, and not only the "big Hollywood" names like Meryl Streep, Alan Aarkin, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon , but also the lesser known actors portraying the "ethnic" roles.
In fact, in keeping with the theme of Hood's disciplined restraint, I was particularly impressed that he resisted the temptation to focus on the stars, and decided rather to coax truly excellent performances from his unknown actors. Yigal Naor, as the relentless torturer, and Omar Metwally, as the terrified and confused El-Ibrahimi, deliver captivating turns replete with substance and authenticity.
The film does have a few flaws, like insufficient integration of the plot threads, but this is a minor criticism in an otherwise strong and instructive movie.
Keep a very close eye on director Gavin Hood though, as I'm convinced we have yet to see his best work.