Movie Review: Rendition
It has been awhile since I have learned something that will actually help me in today's world. I learned that the word "rendition" is something that the U.S. government does when taking a suspected terrorist out of the jurisdiction of America, and brings that individual somewhere else for questioning. As is the case, and the whole point of Rendition. A powerful look at how America deals with suspected terrorists, how they are dealt with and touches on the ever present subject of torture.
Anwar El-brahimi is an Egyptian who has moved to America and has lived there for the past twenty years. He is a very intelligent person and works in the field of chemical engineering and explosives. This proves to be bad for him later on. Anwar also has the American dream, with a nice house, a wife (Reese Witherspoon), a son, and a baby on the way. He is on a business trip in South Africa for the company that employs him and it is time for him to head back home.
At the same time as Anwar is in on his way back to America a terrorist attack took place in North Africa. Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) is part of an American team there, when the attack takes place. His head supervisor ends up dying and now Douglas is in charge and cooperates with the local police. The suspect is now Anwar who has landed in Washington D.C., but not for long.
The government implements the action of rendition and now Anwar doesn't show up anywhere and was never on the plane he took home. He is transported to the North African site where he is interrogated by the local police which is over looked by the American, Douglas. Poor Anwar is accused of being in contact with terrorists and things like that all the while he is being electrocuted or water boarded. Douglas doesnt like any of this and begins to piece things together.
As the movie goes on you find yourself caught up with what Anwar is going through, what his wife is doing back home trying to find her husband and how an American who is ordered to look over the interrogation and how he deals with what he sees going on with another human being. The movie ties everything together really well, leading to a somewhat predictable ending.
Over all this drama/thriller of a flick wasn't bad. It doesn't come close to some recent movies in the same drama, but it provides for an insightful view of what may be happening over seas. Rendition is a powerful movie that some people may enjoy a lot, for me, it wasn't all there.
6/10
Anwar El-brahimi is an Egyptian who has moved to America and has lived there for the past twenty years. He is a very intelligent person and works in the field of chemical engineering and explosives. This proves to be bad for him later on. Anwar also has the American dream, with a nice house, a wife (Reese Witherspoon), a son, and a baby on the way. He is on a business trip in South Africa for the company that employs him and it is time for him to head back home.
At the same time as Anwar is in on his way back to America a terrorist attack took place in North Africa. Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) is part of an American team there, when the attack takes place. His head supervisor ends up dying and now Douglas is in charge and cooperates with the local police. The suspect is now Anwar who has landed in Washington D.C., but not for long.
The government implements the action of rendition and now Anwar doesn't show up anywhere and was never on the plane he took home. He is transported to the North African site where he is interrogated by the local police which is over looked by the American, Douglas. Poor Anwar is accused of being in contact with terrorists and things like that all the while he is being electrocuted or water boarded. Douglas doesnt like any of this and begins to piece things together.
As the movie goes on you find yourself caught up with what Anwar is going through, what his wife is doing back home trying to find her husband and how an American who is ordered to look over the interrogation and how he deals with what he sees going on with another human being. The movie ties everything together really well, leading to a somewhat predictable ending.
Over all this drama/thriller of a flick wasn't bad. It doesn't come close to some recent movies in the same drama, but it provides for an insightful view of what may be happening over seas. Rendition is a powerful movie that some people may enjoy a lot, for me, it wasn't all there.
6/10