Review of Fair Game (2010) by Dana A — 07 May 2011

Engrossing political thriller in the vein of State of Play and Syriana, with an impressive cast led by the always excellent Naomi Watts and legendary actor Sean Penn. Interesting account of the post-9/11 period leading to the Iraq war explores issues of paranoia, misinformation and national security.

Riveting performances and a brisk pace allowed me to enjoy this film, even though I didn't fully understand all the legal and governmental terminology but Naomi Watts as Valerie and Sean Penn as her husband really do an excellent job of conveying this serious, and at times troubling, story.

Watts portrays Plame as an intelligent and capable woman who is easy to sympathize with. As she's effectively blocked out from her job at the C.I.A. and her personal life begins to swiftly unravel, she keeps a steely resolve that's wholly believable.

And while Sean Penn doesn't have to stretch far for his character, he also makes him feel like a genuine person. Great acting from them both to compliment the solid script. Anyone even casually interested in the Valerie Plame scandal should check this out, as it's a pretty darn good (and thought-provoking) adaptation of a dark time in our country's recent history.