Camp X-Ray is a difficult sort of film for a production company to sell to the public. After all, setting a film at the Guantanimo detention facility makes it difficult to attract viewers and there is lots of division as to what folks think about this place. It is definitely a polarizing topic--so making a film that will appeal to a wider audience set here is quite an obstacle--one that the film is able to somehow overcome. Now I am not saying it's a great film, but it is worth seeing--especially since the film was somehow made for only about $1,000,000--a pittance by modern standards.
When the movie begins, Private Cole (Kristen Stewart) has just arrived at the detention facility to work and she is obviously ill-at-ease with the environment. After all, many of the prisoners are quite violent and she soon gets punched in the face by one of the inmates. This, combined with the screaming, insults, feces flinging and uncooperative nature of the detainees, make this a formidable assignment. One of the most difficult of these people is Ali (Peyman Moaadi)--a guy who has gained a reputation as one of the more difficult cases. Oddly, however, as the film progresses, Cole finds herself feeling sorry for Ali and soon the pair create a strange sort of comradeship--one which clearly is in violation of her orders to remain aloof and tight-lipped with these men.
The film's greatest strengths are the acting and originality of the script, as I strongly doubt you've seen anything like this. Stewart shows that she's more than just a vampire's girlfriend with her performance and Moaadi is particularly effective as a manipulative but somehow likable detainee. My only problem with the film is that the story seems awfully difficult to believe when you really think about it--though it LOOKS very realistic throughout. After all, if you think about it, the facility is one of the most secure on the planet and there are cameras everywhere. Her superiors are also beginning to suspect that she's not a team player--so how could she possibly spend so much time just chatting with a man who is seen as a super- dangerous terrorist--especially when the troops have been ordered NOT to fraternize with the prisoners? You would think someone would notice! Also, Cole's change of attitude and bonding with Ali seems to occur amazingly fast--too fast to be readily accepted by all the viewers since he does NOT do a lot to endear himself to her when they first meet (I'll say no more-- you just need to see this for yourself). Despite these weaknesses, the film is thought-provoking and extremely unusual. What's especially unusual is that the film will most likely appeal to folks on all sides of the political spectrum--allowing the viewer to make their own interpretation and draw their own conclusions about the story.
When the movie begins, Private Cole (Kristen Stewart) has just arrived at the detention facility to work and she is obviously ill-at-ease with the environment. After all, many of the prisoners are quite violent and she soon gets punched in the face by one of the inmates. This, combined with the screaming, insults, feces flinging and uncooperative nature of the detainees, make this a formidable assignment. One of the most difficult of these people is Ali (Peyman Moaadi)--a guy who has gained a reputation as one of the more difficult cases. Oddly, however, as the film progresses, Cole finds herself feeling sorry for Ali and soon the pair create a strange sort of comradeship--one which clearly is in violation of her orders to remain aloof and tight-lipped with these men.
The film's greatest strengths are the acting and originality of the script, as I strongly doubt you've seen anything like this. Stewart shows that she's more than just a vampire's girlfriend with her performance and Moaadi is particularly effective as a manipulative but somehow likable detainee. My only problem with the film is that the story seems awfully difficult to believe when you really think about it--though it LOOKS very realistic throughout. After all, if you think about it, the facility is one of the most secure on the planet and there are cameras everywhere. Her superiors are also beginning to suspect that she's not a team player--so how could she possibly spend so much time just chatting with a man who is seen as a super- dangerous terrorist--especially when the troops have been ordered NOT to fraternize with the prisoners? You would think someone would notice! Also, Cole's change of attitude and bonding with Ali seems to occur amazingly fast--too fast to be readily accepted by all the viewers since he does NOT do a lot to endear himself to her when they first meet (I'll say no more-- you just need to see this for yourself). Despite these weaknesses, the film is thought-provoking and extremely unusual. What's especially unusual is that the film will most likely appeal to folks on all sides of the political spectrum--allowing the viewer to make their own interpretation and draw their own conclusions about the story.