Review of Rendition (2007) by Gary O — 27 Jul 2011
I think this film is a lot better than people like to make it out to be. I have found that "heavy-handed" is a favorite descriptor amongst critics, but I beg for this film to be re-evaluated. While most everyone agrees that performances from Meryl and Omar were high caliber, there seems to be debate over the morality questions raised in the film. While such debates are important, I find them somewhat irrelevant to the quality of the film. The film set out to explore the possible flaws of interrogation programs and succeeded in showing the very human impact that can result from such a plot.
*Spoiler alert*.
On a technical note, I thought the film was beautifully shot and edited. Close to the end, the sequence where Fatima is running out of the apartment and is seemingly being followed by her father, the audience is allowed to share the same hope for Fatima's safety that is felt by the father. This is accomplished by interweaving events in a manner that gives the impression of simultaneous hope and doom. This, in my opinion, is an example of great cinema.
This review of Rendition (2007) was written by Gary O on 27 Jul 2011.
Rendition has generally received positive reviews.
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