Review: Proof Of Life
Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan get it oon! Well.. actually they don't.Rating: 6 / 10
Russell Crowe is in every fucken movie you see these days, but so far that hasn't been a bad thing.
In Proof Of Life, he plays the role of a ransom negotiator .. His job, basically, is to go along to hostage+ransom situations and talk the kindappers down from the figure they've demanded to a figure more in line with what the insurance company, to whom Russell's employers are contracted, are willing to pay. Of course all companies and participants sell the negotiation as also being a key part in ensuring the safe return of the hostage(s), and so on.
I thought the movie did a rather good job of portraying what is probably a fairly boring process, ie the actual negotiation and waiting aspect of the whole thing.. It didn't linger with the character introduction beyond what was necessary, as the sequence of events did a reasonable job of taking us through it all. Russell does a great job of being a detached, reasonably morose guy, whose demeanor is probably exactly what's required in such a situation. He glides smoothly through the transition of the movie into Rambo: First Blood, and glides smoothly back out again at the end.
Meg Ryan's character seems a little odd and restrained, until we are reminded of the surprisingly deep introduction we get to her at the beginning of the movie by a minor dialogue towards the end. Since seeing the movie, I've read complaints that the emotion and tension of the sitation is poorly expressed in the film, but I think the kidnapee's sister does a good job of seeming completely unreasonable. Meg's character makes a lot of sense in her capacity as the kidnapee's wife.
David Caruso does a rather good job also, seeming to be exactly what Russell would be like if he were American. :)
Overall fairly enjoyable. Meg doesn't get her gear off, but she's over 40 now so maybe that's a good thing. She gets about without a bra for a lot of the film and it's not impressing anybody. All the south american guys are hilarious, and everybody is great.
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