Fair Game (2010)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Thriller
Director: Doug Liman
Writers: Jez Butterworth (screenplay), John-Henry Butterworth
Stars: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn and Sonya Davison
My score 4/5
Political thrillers are very interesting and if it’s based on true events then it becomes more than that. Depending on the viewers knowledge of the actual political events which took place then the impact of the movie will vary. In recent past there were several movies which spoke of the war in Iraq and events which took place before, during and after the US invasion. Some however is politically accurate but some is doubtful. But for me if something made political sense in the same heaviness after ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ it has to be ‘Fair Game’.
The story takes place from 2001 onwards and unwraps around Valerie Palmer (Naomi Watts-The Ring, King Kong) who is a CIA undercover agent and her husband Joe Wilson (Sean Penn-Milk, Mystic River) who is a freelance writer and former government servant. When Joe decides to write the truth about critical information which Bush administration used to justify the invasion of Iraq, a government insider decides to blow the cover of Valerie in order to divert the public attention in to a different direction. With this move the strong marriage of the couple seems to be hanging by a thread as Joe tries to win the battle against the white house and enormous public opinions and tension builds up around the family.
Without a doubt the performances of Naomi and Sean is just great. They both are very strong in acting and especially Sean who once again proves that he is not the typical Hollywood start but one of the best around.
As for the script it’s gripping and interesting. Rather than being caged in US it travels around distance lands such as Egypt and Iraq which gives more weight to what’s Valerie’s roll in the CIA. With all that character development the event’s which takes place later on the story seems to make more sense and strong.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what’s yellow cake is or for what aluminum tubes are truly used for is in atomic warfare. The story will gradually fill you in with important information related to the plot but beware this is not the 007 type spy thriller if you sit down expecting one. This is about true politics; true people and true situations which will at a point will shake you.
The movie is nothing comparing to the book. Movie is little bit boring and book is much better.
ReplyDeleteThis actually is a very common thing to happen. Even about Eat pray love the book seems to be much better.
ReplyDeleteI think that's because book is more personnel. And it lets you imagine things the way you like. While the movie feeds you an idea forcefully and wont let you dwell on one thing for long coz it has to move to be a movie. But a book you can always revisit the moment and words are used purely for the fact of explaining a phenomena.