Dvd
A Mighty Heart
Daniel was researching a story on the shoe bomber Richard Reid. (Real-life footage of poor Daniel's head being chopped off can be found somewhere in the filthy, murky depths of the internet).
Starring Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Archie Panjabi, Will Patton, Irfan Khan, Sajid Hasan, Aly Khan, Denis O'Hare
Directed by Michael Winterbottom ('24 Hour Party People', 'Tristram Shandy', '9 Songs')
Written by John Orloff (based on the book by Mariane Pearl 'A Mighty Heart: The brave life and death of my husband Danny Pearl')
True Story, Drama | 1hr 40mins | Rated (M) | contains offensive language, content may disturb | Origin: USA, UK
- Trailers
- Reviews
-
- SHARE:
- SHARE:
The Talk
10 votes / No comments
Flicks review
-
4
The worst thing about A Mighty Heart is the ridiculous title. It’s the sappiest phrase I’ve heard in a long time, and is an unfortunate blotch on what is otherwise a very engaging film.
The story concerns the kidnapping and eventual murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. His beheading was broadcast over the internet, and some of us may have had the morbid curiosity to seek it out. Brad Pitt certainly did, and he felt it compelling enough to produce a feature film and cast his wife in the lead role.
Angelina Jolie is…well… adequate in the lead role of Marion Pearl. She manages to restrain herself from any histrionics and keeps her dignity. When, however, she learns of the death of her husband, the opposite is true. Her guttural howls and awful wailings undo much of her good work prior, and one leaves the cinema unsure as to whether Mrs Pitt was a worthy watch or was, on the other hand, “Acting with a capital A”.
The best parts of the film are ‘sans Angelina’, and concern other members of the search and rescue squad exploring the labyrinth of Karachi in their hunt for Pearl. The police chief (Irfan Khan) tortures a suspect in such a way that one is left wondering as to whether Pearl’s captors could do much worse (This, I’m sure, is the point). A few red herrings are dropped into the mix (Most of which play on a generalized Western fear of any dark skinned man with a grey beard and strange head-gear). All this adds to a sense of mystery which descends upon Pearl’s disappearance like an impenetrable fog.
The alleyways and market-places of Karachi come alive thanks to brilliant atmospheric sound design and naturalistic lighting. This might include a bit of music coming from some shop speakers, or the chugging engine of an old bus. It’s a testament to both this and Marcel Zyskind’s urgent cinematography that you feel as though you’re actually there, actually involved with the characters.
The story is always engaging, and brilliantly edited. But Ms Jolie adds some unwanted star power to what is in every other sense a very good film.
SHARE:
The people's reviews
4 reviews
Press Reviews
-
BBC
3
During the hunt, Jolie can do little except sit and wait, and she has few flashes of inspiration. She throws her weight about with the local authorities, screams and cries, and does her stiff upper lip in a televised appeal, but she never quite captures the depth of passion implied in the title...
Read full review -
Dominion Post [Graeme Tuckett]
3
A high-minded film that may well take home a Gucci bag full of statues come Oscar night. But I'm not sure that's enough to recommend it...
Read full review -
Los Angeles Times
Moving and frighteningly real...
Read full review -
NZ Herald [Peter Calder]
4
A precise and unsensational retelling of the Daniel Pearl story from the viewpoint of his wife feels faintly voyeuristic...
Read full review -
Sunday Star-Times [Mark Broatch]
3
There are contrasts aplenty in A Mighty Heart. The calm of the modern, walled house in Karachi where a heavily pregnant Mariane Pearl awaits news of her captured journalist husband, Daniel, against the madness of the city's streets and alleys...
Read full review -
The Christchurch [Margaret Agnew]
3
1/2 Faced with this struggle to see beyond the lead actress to the character she portrays, the film is disadvantaged before Jolie's accented opening voiceover even begins. It's a credit to all the actors and the director that despite this handicap, this film manages to be politically charged, frightening and heart-breaking...
Read full review -
TV3 [Kate Rodger]
3
1/2 Compelling viewing...
Read full review
View more trailers close window
-
Loading the player ...
Search For a DVD
I beg your pardon?
- Flicks.co.nz is serving the great nation of NZ with all things cinematic. Question about a movie or cinema? Thoughts on the site? Quips, gripes, advice for our own personal self-development?
- Get in touch with us by email at ED@ FLICKS.CO.NZ,on TWITTER oron FACEBOOK.
Want to see it
What say you? Yes No
Be the first to comment!