Proof of Life
by Taylor Hackford
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Caruso, David Morse, Meg Ryan, Pamela Reed, Russell CroweDirector: Taylor Hackford
Brand: RYAN,MEG
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 135 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-06-19
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of Proof of Life
Movie Review: Unfairly maligned due to an off-screen romance...
Summary: 4 Stars
Do people ever just watch movies anymore? I mean, really, can anyone say that they judge a film strictly on its artistic merit and not on the trash the media is feeding us on the films stars? I personally try to cast aside my personal feelings for an actor, director or film subject in order to give an honest opinion of a film, but sadly it seems that many people will jump at the chance to hate something because of the personal lives of the stars. I remember when Eddie Murphy was up for Oscar in 2006 and many critics were saying he didn't deserve to win because of his off-screen antics. Seriously, what does his personal life have to do with his performance? Same with Crowe in 2001, or Polanski in 2002, or, take for instance Amy Winehouse's gigantic sweep of the Grammy's last year and the uproar that caused.
She makes good music, end of story.
So, that brings me to the bad press that this film received, and the reason I feel so strongly is because `Proof of Life', while not perfect, is far better than one would expect. Yes, critics, fans and movie goers all but destroyed this film with cluttered bad reviews all because of their personal feelings towards the off-screen romance that blossomed between Russell Crowe and the then married Meg Ryan. I'll say it; it is wrong to cheat on your spouse.
That said, celebrities do it all the time, so why should I really care?
I'm not handing them awards for Miss America or electing them into political office (although they may be better fit), I'm grading their film, and their film was actually pretty decent. Why should I allow my feelings towards their bedside manner impress my feelings towards their work?
`Proof of Life' tells the story of Alice Bowman who finds out that her husband has been kidnapped by rebels in the fictional Latin American country of Tecala. In her delicate state she finds herself being taken advantage of, and she would continue to be if it weren't for negotiator Terry Thorne who swoops in to save the day. Thus sums up the film you are about to experience.
Sure, the film is not perfect, and it really could have used some tightening up (I really feel that Taylor Hackford has an issue with tightening up his films) but in the end there is not a whole lot to hate about this film. Sure, parts seem very improbable, and the implied romance between Terry and Alice can leave the audience frustrated (I would have much rather had their romance be more explicit in the sense that it is explored, for it may have brought some closure to the ending) but the action scenes are well filmed and the acting is well done and the script, overall, is nicely constructed. It makes sense, even if it isn't totally believable (I know you know what I mean). David Caruso and David Morse do wonderful supporting work, but the film is all about Ryan and Crowe. I adore Meg Ryan, and she nails her performance, manipulating her emotions to show us an unhappy woman in love with a man who cannot satisfy her; and Crowe, while not at the top of his game, is still effortlessly captivating.
Truth be told; Crowe at his worst is better than many at their best.
So, in the end I must urge you to disregard your preconceived notions, and everyone else's for that matter, and just see this movie. It is exciting, engaging and rewarding. It may not be award worthy, but as far as these types of genre films go it is just about top notch, and without doubt far better than many would have you believe.
Summary of Proof of Life
When her husband is kidnapped in a small South American country, Alice Bowman turns to Terry Thorne, a professional hostage negotiator, for help.Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: R
Release Date: 8-FEB-2005
Media Type: DVD
When someone in Proof of Life says "Don't leave me hanging," you can bet they're going to be left hanging. That's what happens when Alice Bowman (Meg Ryan) learns that her husband Peter (David Morse) has been kidnapped by rebels in the (fictional) Latin American country of Tecala. He's building a corporate-funded dam there, and that makes him a fine target for kidnap by the rebels, who barter with the lives of well-insured executives. Enter Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe), former soldier-turned-"K&R" (kidnap and ransom) negotiator for a global firm that collects a commission for rescued hostages. With no guarantee of payment, Thorne takes the job out of moral obligation (and a yearning for would-be widow Alice).
There's little room for delicacy in Tony Gilroy's screenplay, adapted from an article by William Prochnau and the book Long Road to Freedom by kidnapping survivor Thomas Hargrove. A hint of romance between Crowe and Ryan (who enjoyed plenty of it off-screen) adds tension as the story shifts back and forth to Morse's captivity, but it also threatens to cast Alice in an unsympathetic light. Avoiding that pitfall, director Taylor Hackford crafts the plot as a latter-day Casablanca that unfolds on a grander canvas (at stunning locations in Ecuador) while favoring an exciting rescue-mission climax over the tragedy of an ill-timed affair. It might have worked better as a straightforward macho action flick (with David Caruso doing lively work as Crowe's gung-ho K&R cohort), but Proof of Life effectively conveys the two-sided torment of a hostage crisis, while Morse holds it all together as the character to root for. --Jeff Shannon
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