Camp X-Ray (2014) User Reviews

Surprising and very moving

[toby-brace · 8/10 · 25 October 2014]

This film affected me very deeply in a way I was not expecting.

Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi deliver stunning performances which take your breathe away. You really feel for this guy and Stewart has never been more convincing. I thought it would be a stretch to imagine her as a tough soldier and it is kind of surreal yet she manages to create a credible person out of the role. Her emotional distress as the contradictions of her job as camp guard begin to overwhelm her, is very powerful and a pleasure to watch.

This film totally changed my mind about Gitmo. Just because it makes you realize the awful possibility that totally innocent people may be stuck there, and that unlike any other prison in the USA, there is no way for them to appeal or for anybody to appeal on their behalf.

There must be some way to allow mistakes to be corrected. It's not right.

It's amazing to me that I never saw it that way. I just assumed that they were all hard core bad guys. But what if they aren't.

That would be a terrible fate, and this film really punches home how terrible it would be.

Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi shine in Peter Sattler's debut...

[ClaytonDavis · 7/10 · 14 October 2014]

The directorial debut of Peter Sattler is infused with a strong moral ambiguity that will make you question your own beliefs. Anchored by two magnificent performances by Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi, "Camp X-Ray" is a flawed yet very affecting portrait of a relationship that develops in the most unlikeliest of places.

"Camp X-Ray" tells the story of a soldier named by Amy Cole, who is assigned to watch detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Her whole outlook on the military and life are changed when she befriends one of the detainees named Ali Amir.

From an honest filmmaking standpoint, writer/director Sattler hits many of his cinematic cues that you'd expect in a movie like this. It's full of emotion, tension, and moral questions that keep you thinking. However, the questions and emotional high-points are few and far between. At times, the film can feel awfully bloated, with fluff, and seemingly unimportant subplots that do nothing for the overall theme. There was a unique opportunity to explore queries regarding war, prison, and other things regarding politics that can be very frustrating when watching, especially since it has 117 minute run time. With all that said, when Sattler does it right, he nails it. I would be remiss if I didn't say, I'm not looking forward to see what he has up his sleeve next.

The cinematic world tends to forget that Kristen Stewart showed such immense promise pre-"Twilight" days. A complete standout in Sean Penn's "Into the Wild" in 2007, for which she was nominated alongside the cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Even in between the vampire franchise, she subtly delivered in "Adventureland," "The Runaways," and "On the Road." Stewart revives her glory days as Private Amy Cole, and makes us believe in a brighter future for the tween icon. Sattler knows her limitations, strengths, and puts them both to stunning use. Emotionally charged, Stewart may have delivered her finest performance yet, even one of the best by an actress this year.

As Asghar Farhadi enthusiasts will remember the talented Peyman Moaadi from the Oscar-winning "A Separation," the rest of the world that hasn't had the pleasure yet will start becoming well acquainted. Moaadi ignites a fire throughout the film, balancing his inquisitive and charismatic demeanor against a deep-rooted anger that will explode at any moment. I implore all writer and directors to utilize him over the next few years/decades.

Overall, "Camp X-Ray" has many things to offer an audience member. Some of which will make you curious, some of which that will undoubtedly disappoint you. Consequently, the film will get a dialogue going between those who have seen the film. I'm excited to see how Sattler's experience will be interpreted by the viewing public. At bare minimum, you can relish in the bravura turns of Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi, two actors that are well worth the watch.

A Genuine Good Watch!

[awanharis90 · 8/10 · 18 October 2014]

A Worth watching experience, after a long time came across a genuine movie describing how life is there in world's most hatted prison, the movie explains how abnormal life becomes and also uncovers the panic situation when you live in a prison where rules are set by other's as clearly and effectively said by Peyman Moadi "It is there life not our's, You want us to follow your rules".

There is no violence in the movie yet it explains a lot about the life in prison and how disturbing it is, and I believe this is the beauty of this movie...well done to Producer and Directors.

Note: I do not support Al-Qaeda, ISIS or any other such organization but I am aware of the fact that there are many people out there who are imprisoned for life, yet they are innocent and world's so called peace loving countries are not willing to free them in fact have ambitions to pile up more and more such cases. Dr. Afia Siddique is one of such example.

Which side are you on?

[tgarciadiez · 7/10 · 31 October 2014]

The movie itself was quite good and I think that it lives up to a 7.5 star rating. Now, as said before I enjoyed the film but do understand that for many (Including myself) it can be seen as a little to slow...Until arriving to the climax, which is absolutely great! The thing is, that we need to understand what this movie is really trying to portray. Its showing us the crude reality of how heartless and dehumanizing humanity can be through the eyes of Cole (Kristen Stewart) who starts to see how harsh things are and as said in the movie "it's not all so black and white". Kristen Stewart's acting was good but nothing out of the ordinary... I have to say that Maddi's performance was very good and really interprets the character by truly reflecting what Ali was feeling and displaying his desperation of having been in Guantanamo Bay for 8 years. To sum it up, the movie is good and quite the worthwhile. Be patient at the beginning cause it gets better and better as it progresses.'

Decent

[Red_Identity · 17 October 2014]

Pretty much works in spite of itself. It's a good thing that it manages to be pretty restrained, but the storyline isn't particularly all that original, and it has several rough patches along the way. Still, despite how much of a "cliche" it is, the chemistry between Moaadi and Stewart is palpable and they make it emotionally affecting. Both are good, especially Moaadi. I've never thought Stewart was a bad actress (never seen any Twilight film), I've just seen her do the same thing in pretty much all of her performances (On The Road was probably the only time she left her comfort zone). It's not that she's particularly bad at what she does, it just comes off as a limitation. This is her doing the same thing. She's good at it, I'm not sure if the character really needed all that much more, but maybe a better actress still would've brought more to it? She's just not stretching herself here, which maybe isn't a problem. But it's nowhere near a great performance, and Moaadi ultimately fares better.

Not a bad message.

[xecapyc · 7/10 · 15 February 2021]

To my understanding this movie is about a human connection, which despite the unconducive circumstances can and should be made. Kristen Stewart is so young & unsophisticated here, that it makes her portrayal of a naive and innocent character very raw and touching.

Takes everything you think you know, stirs it up and throws it back at you to figure out.

[twokelvins · 10/10 · 18 October 2014]

Camp X-Ray is one of those films that doesn't quite leave you after the credits roll. It wasn't what I was expecting and I was surprised the film didn't revolve around politics. The cinematography, the soundtrack, including the constant hum in the background all formed a very real atmosphere. Visually, Camp X-Ray is impressive, but the real essence of the film does lie in the characters. The acting is some of the best I've seen.

80% of the film takes place on opposite sides of a cell door. We catch a small glimpse through a small glass window, and yet this is enough to feel the chemistry between Peyman Moaadi and Kristen Stewart. I can't even begin to imagine the difficulty at capturing what they did through a window, but it appears effortless.

The characters are incredibly fleshed out and there are some small hints of this, such as a glimpse of Cole wearing socks with sandals. A personality statement in itself. It's all about the small things!

I do think a big part of why this film affected me so much is because of my age. I saw parts of Cole in myself.

She wants to make a difference, she's seeking a way to push herself and the army is a straight forward way of doing that. It pushes your limits, it goes against what women should really do, and by doing that you're trying to prove something within yourself. You're tougher and braver than you appear. Yet put in this situation, things aren't so straight forward or 'black and white' as she expresses. Life is so much more complicated, relationships develop, experiences happen that throw you off course.

Then there's the added uncertainty of everything, the frustration of not knowing, wondering whether this is right? Whether this is what you want to do? Whether it's okay to speak to this guy? Questioning what you have always been taught is right and wrong.

I do feel that a lot of films tend to portray women as tough, fearless and almost masculine, but underneath the tough front, I think we all really are vulnerable. There's no escaping that. It's easy to act like things are okay, to put on a tough front, to hide, but there's still always going to be that vulnerability...maybe it goes as you get older, I don't know.

In the end she discovers her way own way of making a difference, in a way that at the beginning of the film would have been unimaginable, and it just shows how much can change, how little we know, and how important it is to keep an open mind.

Overall, I was surprised. It wasn't the film I expected, but much, much more. You'll feel every emotion imaginable. It's the kind of film that takes everything you know, or think you know, stirs it all up and throws it back at you to figure out.

Everything about this film is commendable.

Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi form a unique prisoner-guard bond

[estebangonzalez10 · 7/10 · 22 December 2014]

"I never agreed to follow your rules. If I follow your rules it means that I'm agreeing that you have the rights to give me rules, but you don't."

Peter Sattler has just made a name for himself after this pretty impressive debut as a writer-director. His screenplay never feels manipulative and he simply tells a minimalist story without being political about it. The film hit home for me because there has been a lot of political discussion in Uruguay as to whether or not the President should've accepted the transfer of six Guantanamo Bay prisoners to our country. These prisoners had been discharged in 2010, but no country was willing to receive them. After watching this film, I think we made the right humanitarian decision. Sattler never intends to portray these detainees as either guilty or innocent. We aren't informed about the detainees' past, but it rather focuses on a unique relationship between one of the prisoners and a guard. It would have been easier to turn this into a political film, but not everything is black and white and Sattler intelligently turns this into a humanitarian story about two people with different backgrounds who find a connection while at the prison camp. There are several parallel scenes where we see the detainee locked in his cell and the guard in her small room kind of like reflecting the fact that they are both prisoners and victims of their circumstance. This isn't a political film nor a military bashing one as some people claim; it is an authentic character driven drama that will make you question certain issues.

In order for a film like this to succeed you need to have engaging performances from your cast, and this was the case for Camp X-Ray. I've never doubted Kristen Stewart's ability as an actress. She's given solid performances throughout her career, but unfortunately when given a poor script there is nothing she can do to improve it. She proved she has more than one facial expression in this year's Still Alice, and here she gets more screen time to prove her talent. She is convincing as the guard, and her chemistry with the prisoner is the most engaging element of this film. The film also has a subplot revolving on how she is abused by some of the men in power, but the documentary The Invisible War handles this issue in a much better way. Having seen the documentary, I identified with how poorly she was treated, but for audiences who haven't been exposed to the documentary they may not make much sense out of this subplot. But it is clearly an important issue with women in the military and how many times their complaints are met with hatred and often ignored. Kristen Stewart's performance was solid, but the film entirely belongs to Peyman Moaadi who delivers a great performance as the detainee Ali. I knew his face was familiar, but only when I looked him up in the IMDb did I realize he was the actor from A Separation. He is outstanding in this film and his character is the most engaging of the film. It works thanks to the fantastic chemistry the two have together because the rest of the characters are completely ignored. We don't get much depth from the rest of detainees nor the other military officials, with the exception of Lane Garrison who is solid as one of the officials who often abuses his position of power. Overall, this is a solid film that centers on a unique relationship between two people who aren't as different as one would expect.

Excellent performances by Stewart and Moaadi, moving storyline

[Tdc-91-186252 · 10/10 · 19 January 2014]

Moving and emotionally charged performances by both Stewart and Moaadi from beginning to end. I was completely surprised by the subject matter of Gitmo, expecting a political message as the underlying theme, but it turned out to be a study of humanity and relationships within extreme circumstances. Impressive directorial debut of Sattler.

Stewart plays guard Amy Cole, a young marine from a small town who joined the military to escape her life. The movie centers around the conflict of her growing relationship with a prisoner, Moaadi, who has been in Gitmo for eight years. Both actors do justice to the storyline and these complex characters without building caricatures of military and extremist personalities. I'm not one for heavy military story lines, but I was pleasantly surprised by this film's twist to the Gitmo plot with a narrow lens on the people, not the politics. It's not all heavy subject matter....Moaadi adds some appreciated humor. Bottom line: worth my time.

Enjoyable and touching in parts! 6/10

[leonblackwood · 6/10 · 9 April 2016]

Review: I really enjoyed this movie because of the emotional content, and the fact that it shows the different sides to war but I can't see it going down well with Americans or anyone who is victims of terrorism. I think that audiences would have had more sympathy for Ali (Payman Maadi), if they knew if he was guilty or not, and I was surprised that he was able to have them in depth conversations with Cole (Kristen Stewart), with so many inmates close by. Anyway, the performances were great, especially from Payman Maadi, and the unique storyline did touch an emotional cord. Because of the political status about Guantanamo Bay and the fact that the world has mixed reviews about it, I'm not surprised that this film was kept under the radar. The director really did push the barriers by making a film about a relationship between an inmate and a guard but I liked the way that he showed an human side to a soldier, who could have easily felt remorse towards Ali after he covered her in poop. For a film that is mainly about 2 people, I really did enjoy it, and I have to commend Kristen Stewart for taking on a project that is completely out of her comfort zone. Enjoyable! 

Round-Up: Kristen Stewart, 26, first hit the big screen in 2002, in Panic room, playing Jodie Fosters daughter and then she went on to star in Cold Creek Manor, Zahara, Into The Wild and What Just Happened but she is mostly known for her role as Bella in the Twilight franchise. Since then, she has become an household name but I personally think that she acts the same in all of her movies, even though she has covered many genres. Anyway, this is the first film written and directed by Peter Sandler, who made this small film, interesting throughout. Kristen Stewart wouldn't have been my first choice to play a soldier but she completely transformed herself, which, surprisingly, worked. 

Budget: $1million Worldwide Gross: $61,000 (Terrible)

I recommend this movie to people who are into their war/drama movies starring Kristen Stewart, Peyman Moaadi, Lane Garrison, Tara Holt, John Carroll Lynch and Anoop Simon. 6/10

Peter Sattler needs more to discover

[eh-khoshdel · 5/10 · 24 October 2014]

it was not storyline which take spectators to sit on the edge of their seat to watch whole of film, but undoubtedly the brilliant play of both Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi together which was one of the strong point of that. The film keep you wait to see what will happen in the relationship between a detainee and its guard, a relationship,based on standard, should have never occurred. people from America seems to be more interested about the film , not because they are looking for a Drama to watch, maybe they prefer other in this genre, but it's director Peter Sattler's research about what probably would be happen to Guantanamo and American troops there and his attempt to picture it. Americans sons, friends, army are in war in all over the world and this is what people want to touch troops lifetime from distance. Places seems to be peaceful, clean and sometimes intimate(library, sport, food,..) and not as dark as what we thought about Americans prisons in Guantanamo, but lack of variety of locations and persist to film at only 2 or 3 places during characters dialogue, made viewers somehow limit, those who wished to see much more scenes from there. Meaning of hurriedness to finish filming comes in audiences mind first. The number of "8" seems bold and mystery, 8 years later, 8 month later, hit the ball for 8 times but sounds too long to catch 48, and so on that perhaps should be asked from director about his insisting on number 8 in this film. Generally for those who used to see American star Kristen Stewart in Twilight, this provide a new face for her fans, also the same goes for Peyman Moaadi which Iranian can see him in new character with a foreign language and in strange locations, beside American stars who have millions of followers in Iran.

Guantanamo Bay

[Axiomsense · 10/10 · 18 October 2014]

With all the detractors of Kristen Stewart re: the Twilight saga, it's fair to say that they can now eat her shorts. Camp X ray highlights the fact that sometimes, people are wrongfully imprisoned or detained, that what may be deemed as a threat to national security by the policy makers and the flow on effect of orders in that respect, can possibly be askew.

Connecting with another person on any level, in any scenario, as a result of any reason or no reason at all, is what life is about. Although this film is the work of multiple talented entertainment artists, and the story, they're interpretation of what life may be like at Guantanamo Bay for it's detainees, there's a powerful message, a range of kindness and emotion, uplifting and educating to the end.

Kristen Stewart, simply amazing...

Worth Watching

[preben_hassel · 7/10 · 6 May 2015]

I've never seen Twilight, so I don't really have any relationship to Kirsten Steward, but this movie didn't give me a bad impression of her at all. The movie is pretty straight forward. No complications.

I'm left with the thought that the maker of the movie might want to send us a message. Perhaps that not all of those kept at 'Gitmo' are in fact terrorists. With USA's paranoia I think it's safe to say that the terrorist card sometimes is handed out a bit too easy. Especially since the inmates of 'gitmo' are put there without a trial.

Conclusion: It's absolutely watchable, no wow factors but I would recommend it. 7/10

Was OK

[brittneysaid-787-572711 · 4/10 · 28 April 2015]

I was really excited to see this movie. I have to admit i didn't read what it was about or watch a trailer prior to watching this movie however wanted to watch a movie with Kirsten Stewart in it other than twilight.

Kirsten Stewart did a great job in this movie and loved her role. However there were parts in the movie that i don't think had any important part in this movie.

All the other characters in the movie I can not recall seeing prior so this didn't help at all to attention with the movie and made it seem very low grade.

It was really hard for me to make a connection to any of the characters in this movie and although they do explain part of what this movie is about at the start it was really hard for me to keep up overall.

The ending came pretty sudden and didn't really work well for me. They finished answering all the questions (the ones i picked up anyway) but it didn't leave me with that Awww or WOW factor most people look for in movies.

Over all I was glad that i watched it however it probably wont be one i would purchase in future or be the first one i grab off the shelf.

While the film is a bit difficult to believe, the acting and originality of the plot make this one work.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 6 November 2014]

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.

'To Defend Freedom!' at Guantanamo Bay

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 7/10 · 6 February 2016]

Kristen Stewart plays Cole – she is a young woman who joins the army to make a difference and escape the mundanity of small town life. Then she gets assigned to Guantanamo Bay to guard 'detainees' of 'The War on Terror'. Not what she had hoped for. On arrival she enters a World of machismo and casual violence.

Then she meets Ali who has been detained for years in a small cell. He loves Harry Potter and misses his old life but detention without trial means he has no rights not even the basic ones established under The Geneva Convention. He is visibly lonely and hanging onto sanity and life by a thread but he is attracted to this new guard and slowly he breaks down her reserve and they connect on a very human level. This though is verboten and soon she has to work out who really is her enemy.

Now this is a very well made film, it avoids over sentimentality and crass judgements and instead focuses on the ordinary and by doing so shows how extra ordinary it can be. Upstanding performances are found across the board here but Peyman Moaadi ('A Separation' and 'About Elly')as Ali is particularly noteworthy. This is a film about conflict but also about removing the barriers that cause it; it is thoughtful and manages to hold your attention throughout- a rather excellent watch and so recommended.

Stewart and Maadi are fantastic

[LittleBear11 · 10/10 · 17 October 2014]

Peter Sattler's directorial debut, "Camp X-Ray," is a masterfully shot film that inhabits two stellar performances by Kristen Stewart and Payman Maadi.

Stewart plays PFC Amy Cole from small town Florida who is socially awkward and equally earnest. Meanwhile, Maadi's character of Ali Amir is a charismatic detainee whom is engulfed in his impotent anger and ceaseless boredom.

The film itself is quietly drawn and slow paced to convey the monotony of being a guard at Guantanamo Bay. "Camp X-Ray" is a two-hander for the majority of the film and it rests entirely upon the interactions of PFC Cole and Detainee 471 (Ali). Personally, I liked that the dynamic between the two is purely platonic and develops from the honest human requirement of connection. The tag line of the film "Connection takes courage" is entirely apt.

The supporting cast of Lane Garrison and John Carroll Lynch as Cpl. "Randy" Ransdell and Col. James Drummond do solid work in their roles as Cole's superiors at Camp Delta.

Sattler kept a film about Gitmo as apolitical as probably possible, but some will dislike the lack of a solid stance. The film does not offer any answers to the quagmire of Guantanamo Bay, but rather raises questions and displays the conflicting emotions one might feel while serving or detained there.

Overall, I really liked this little Sundance indie. The attention to detail is impressive and the performances are more than worth seeing.

Buon film

[massimoconti-pozzi · 7/10 · 16 May 2018]

Non scontato ben recitato, possibilista. Storia delicata e cruda. 7,5

Camp X-Ray is a great Sundance drama

[Filmfanatic11 · 10/10 · 26 October 2014]

Peter Sattler did good with "Camp X-Ray." Sattler utilized a bipartisan script that is brought to life with two amazing performances from Kristen Stewart and Payman Maadi.

Pfc. Amy Cole and Ali Amir are two completely different characters with completely opposite backgrounds, yet they reach an understanding. Cole develops a better understanding of the humanity behind the detainees and Ali gains perspective of an MP guarding him. There are lingering questions over Ali's innocence or guilt or whether he is manipulating a vulnerable soldier.

The tenuous friendship is so intriguing because it should not exist and it's not quite a friendship. "Camp X-Ray" is a slow-paced drama that builds up to an incredibly tense third act. The acting is tremendous and the attention to set design is impressive. I've seen documentaries of life at Camp Delta and it looks very similar.

Stewart and Maadi have a great on screen dynamic that the director wisely captures with close ups. Lane Garrison as Cpl. Ransdell is solid as the main antagonist of the film.

I recommend "Camp X-Ray" to anyone. It's a good film that doesn't preach right or wrong.

A bit long-running for the subject, interesting glimpse into Guantanamo Bay detention center.

[TxMike · 23 January 2017]

We watched this on Netflix streaming movies, mainly because of the actors. Plus it is timely because Camp X-Ray is actually part of the Guantanamo Detention facility in Cuba and in recent years much has been discussed of its use and possible shutting down.

The first thing we learn is they are "detainees", not "prisoners", as it makes a difference in what is allowed regarding international law.

As it opens we see a Muslim man, Peyman Moaadi as Ali, being captured in his German home and brought to Camp X-Ray under suspicion. When the current time of the movie opens he has been there for several years, his future is indefinite.

We see a new set of US Army soldiers showing up for duty, to guard the place and assure the detainees are kept in line, fed, given books, whatever is within the protocol, the 'SOP'. The soldier the story focuses on is Kristen Stewart in a quite different role for her, as Private Cole. She is mainly a by-the-book person and doesn't shy away from close duty with the detainees.

It seems many negative comments about this movie arise from those who think the movie should have been something else, a very empty way to look at a story. What it distills down to is establishing a humane understanding between Ali and Cole. The ability to realize that no matter what your creed or nation we all have the common right to living with dignity. And Cole learns that in her interactions with Ali.

As the movie ends Cole has shipped out and new soldiers arrive, but Ali finds the last Harry Potter book he so desperately wanted, inside was a note from Cole, it was one of the last things she did, made sure the book arrived. A small gesture but it was valuable.

Kristen Stewart like you have never seen her before!

[CharlieGreenCG · 7/10 · 23 October 2014]

After the events of 911, many Muslims considered 'terror threats' were unwillingly pulled out from where they live and taken to the Guantanamo Bay. A political hell-hole, maximum security prison. Kristen Stewart's lead character, Amy Cole, is a newly assigned solider stationed there.

Warned of the strict rules and told to not let them get in your head, her job is to oversee the detainees. Since escape is impossible, their aim is to just keep them from not dying. Reminded that this too is a war-zone, them against her, she is smitten of any emotion and throws herself in the deep end. Worn down by persistence, she befriends Ali (Peyman Mooadi), a 'detainee' who has been imprisoned there for eight years.

Acting much like Hannibal Lector behind bars, Peyman's performance is moving, whilst providing needed (subtle) humour. Although there is a heavy steel security door between them for the duration of the film, the chemistry balance between Kirsten and Peyman is gripping. Kristen Stewart in fact is outstanding in the unconventional role and like you have never seen her before.

Brutally regimented, Camp X-Ray at times feels tedious, perhaps to give a sense of the time lapse, or perhaps the lack of soundtrack just exaggerates it. Either way, it is superb direction by first- time writer, director Peter Sattler. With authentic representation in mind, and no underlying political themes reflected, Camp X-Ray instead focuses on being character driven excellence.

Full Review and Director Peter Sattler Q+A on our website - http://gonewiththemovies.com/reviews/camp-xray-review.php

Not real

[assem-scofield-12 · 4/10 · 27 December 2014]

I watched this movie because my friend was afraid to watch Poker Night thriller movie , so we booked two tickets for camp x-ray

I didn't know anything about the story of the movie before i went to the theater and i find that makes my judgment fair.

I. Story line:

I read a lot about Gtmo camp (I'm an Arab , in case you didn't notice). This movie is making Guantanamo like 5 stars detention hotel. The camera just making a glimpse on the human rights violations , just a glimpse. I don't see starvation, beating, sex slaving.

II. Picture:

Well, not because the movie is talking about a prison that you lock us up. I don't know the director did that on purpose or he just did it like that, but i felt the most uncomfortable feeling in the most comfortable place to me (the cinema). 80% of the scenes were shot in the corridor between the cells with annoying colors. the robotic motion of the guards checking on the detainees, so annoying , and i don't think it is real.

III. Acting:

Kristin Stewart was very good in this character, finally she found what might fit her!! Payman Maadi, i see an excellent actor locked up in a cell of a bad made movie.

Summary : I need my money back!!!

Big surprise!

[Adriano_Galliani · 8/10 · 6 February 2015]

After watching "American Sniper" I swerved I would never again watch anything from USA related to their most recent military campaigns, cause I couldn't stand another buying false facts and fiction as a truth. But boy, this movie blew me away.

It does carry a strong message, it has to go a great lengths, it cant be too direct, but it delivers when it really matters.

Kristen in her recent works shows that she can act and that shes willing to do more artistically challenging titles now that shes done with that teen garbage.

But real star is Peyman Moaadi, heart-aching performance. Just brilliant.

Im still wondering how this movie happened, I truly believed that "American Sniper" defined what USA market want to see, judging by it Oscar nominations and positive reviews based only on patriotism.

Camp X-Ray is not at all apolitical as some of reviewers say - nah, it is political statement, cleverly submerged under story about human species, friendship and love.

Don't miss this one!

Fantastic Directorial Debut. Completely wrong 'R' rating.

[tenyearreunion · 7/10 · 30 July 2015]

If this is his directorial debut I am expecting big things to come from Mr Saddler in the future. This film is thought provoking, and as a previous reviewer says, it stays with you for a while. You are not left comfortable at all, which is a good thing. The thought of being on the wrong side of that cell door (shudder).

However, Mr Saddler does not ram any particular view he may have down your throat at all. He is not drawn into making the plot overly political (if at all) or sentimental. The film just plays out the story, very well with well above average performances from the two leads. It is a very thin tightrope well traversed. Let the story do the talking and good for him for playing it out in that fashion.

I have to say I don't quite rate Miss Stewart as an particular draw to any film I see, I don't think she has a good 'range', but she is really stepping up her acting performances with the likes of Adventureland, Still Alice and this. She is obviously trying and I applaud that. She could have quite easily played puff pieces for years after Twilight and taken the money. I really don't think she does the above projects for $$$. If she is taking the 'one for the bank, one for me' approach then good for her.

Back to the film. I am stunned at the R rating it has over in the US. Why? I have seen FAR worse films with a lesser rating that I wouldn't want sub 17 year olds seeing, but this....I would want every 14+ year old to see. Get their little grey cells thinking. I must have a short memory as I can neither remember any overt nudity or 'excessive' swearing. If there were lots of bad words it is a credit to the film that I didn't notice and it must have instead added to the characters portrayal. It is a shame as I would have imagined the R rating would have put off many seeing it at the Cinema.

A very odd decision.

So, this has been on my list for a while and I am glad I ticked it off. A Summer blockbuster it isn't. But it will have me keeping an eye out for future projects by both the Director and Miss Twilight.

Unwatchable

[keenanclarke-04942 · 1/10 · 15 July 2015]

There is so many things wrong with this movie and I only watched the first 15 minutes. This is the first movie in years that I have turned off before I finished watching it.

Don't get me wrong, I watch a lot of movies, so there is plenty of opportunity to see movies as bad as this and it just hasn't happened in years. As someone who spent some time in the USAF, I hope I can assure you a tiny little lady who has just been briefed (not in full and in a group for some reason) on her arrival and by an E-2 (for some reason) is not going to be thrown into a dangerous situation (which wasn't dangerous until they went into the detainee's room) that she clearly isn't trained to handle.

Then they go over her tactical responsibility and the guy who goes in front of her takes her responsibility (which flip flops as the scene progresses) and she stands there doing nothing before going in the catch an elbow in the face-mask which somehow busts her lip. Then she doesn't stay in the room but abandons her team instead... So lame. The pointless banter afterward on the bus was the final straw.

Save yourself some time you won't get back and don't watch this garbage. Kristen Stewart is as bad in this as every other movie I have seen her in. While her shy teenager face worked in the Twilight series, it is extremely out of place in this film.

Unwatchable.