Proof of Life

Rating:
Summary: Proof of Life
Review: Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe) is a kidnap and ransom expert. His job is to negotiate the release of hostages and if necessary retrieve them. In a small South American country of Tecala a buisness man (David Morse) is kidnapped. His wife Alice (Meg Ryan) turns to Thorne for help. The captors ask for three million for his release. In the months that follow Terry must not only negotiate with the terrorist's but deal with his own feelings toward Alice.

Before watching this film I had no idea K&R was a billion dollar a year industry. Listen to the commentary it's real informative. The movie shows not only the hell a kidnapped person goes threw but his familys as well. This film gets off to a good start, then drags a bit in the middle but has a great finish. The rescue operation was just awesome. I really liked Russell Crowe and David Caruso's characters. I would love to see a sequel with these characters negotiating another ransom. The DVD contains a documentary, commentary and theatrical trailer. The film is presented in widescreen and DD 5.1 surround.

Rating:
Summary: Film had much greater potential
Review: Proof of Life tells a story about the new business of "Kidnap and Ransom" - in which terrorists kidnap wealthy or influential people for the sole purpose of raising money for their causes. The business has become so big that companies purchase K and R insurance and a new field of K and R specialists has emerged. This is the story about an American couple living in a South American country (fictionalized for the movie). The husband, Peter, is kidnapped for ransom. His company is going bankrupt and didn't make the insurance payments for K and R coverage, so it is left to his wife and sister (Meg Ryan and Pamela Reed) to free him. Enter K and R consultant Terry Thorne to assist with the negotiations and release. One wonders who goes through more agony and torture - Peter or the audience viewing this film.

The only things that save this DVD from a one or two star rating are the extras - included is a documentary, "The Making of Proof of Life" and the feature-length audio commentary by director Taylor Hackford.

I found the documentary and behind-the-scenes footage interesting and entertaining. Watching the documentary prior to watching the movie enhanced my viewing of the film and did not detract from giving away too much of the story. The audio commentary by Hackford was infinitely more interesting than watching the film attempt to stand on its own merits.

After viewing the movie, it is not surprising that critics lambasted the theatrical release. Released in the midst of reports about the real-life relationship between lead actors Russell Crowe (Terry Thorne) and Meg Ryan (Alice Bowman), the two stars fail to demonstrate any on-screen chemistry. In his commentary Hackford tells the viewers that during filming he was not even aware that his two actors were involved romantically - that they kept their relationship personal and private. But it was during the editing process that the real-life gossip was being reported by the media. Hackford describes a scene that was cut from the film. When under the pressure of negotiating the release of Ryan's husband in the film, Peter, (played quite well by David Morse), Alice and Terry succumb to the heat of passion for a night of love-making. Both characters are then tormented with guilt as they continue their pursuit to free Peter. This crucial scene and plot element was cut from the film.

The ensuing scenes of the film are based on the consummation of the relationship between Alice and Terry. With that key element removed from the film, the denouement fails to hold together. Hackford explains in his commentary that the film was tested with audiences with and without the lovemaking scene. He says that the film tested poorly with the scene included - because of the influence of the real-life relationship of the stars. Ryan, he says, insisted the scene be cut. Although Hackford had creative control for director's cut, he opted to go with Ryan's wishes and those of the test audiences. That was the one mistake that could have saved this film - were the film to be taken on its own merits and discounting the real-life drama between the two stars. For example, what if certain scenes between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had been cut from Cleopatra? It was a disservice to the audience to allow the extracurricular activities of the stars to influence a key plot element that very easily could have saved this film. Hearing this behind-the-scenes information at least explains why the film falls apart - but I'm sure most movie-goers would rather see a film that makes sense, rather than one that was shaped by the opinion of a test audience and an actor. It seems that business and money took precedence over art.

Ryan fails to muster up any kind of credibility in her attempt to make a career shift as a dramatic actress - similar to her attempt at believability in When a Man Loves a Woman. Crowe does an acceptable job in his portrayal of Terry Thorne, the former military man turned Kidnap and Rescue consultant. His best scenes in the film are those when he interacts with his fellow K and R colleagues and during the rescue mission, rather than with Ryan. Any off-screen chemistry between the two certainly did not transfer to film.

Hackford also describes the influence that Ryan had in the development of the Alice character. The character was initially written as a weaker, more emotional person. As Hackford talks about all of the changes that were made due to Ryan's input, one wishes that the director would have stuck with the original script, which had to have been much better than the final result. The story and the relationship between Alice and Terry would have made much more sense if the filmmakers had remained true to the story.

There's also a variety of dialects and accents used by the characters/actors in the film. While Hackford strived for authenticity by casting South American actors, I found it easier to view the film with the English subtitles displayed so I could pick up all of the dialogue and not have to keep playing it back to figure out the dialogue. I generally have a very good ear for dialects, but found that distracting in this particular film.

A strength of the film is the use of the intercut technique, when Hackford volleys back and forth between Peter's life in captivity and the lives of those working toward his release. The best scene using this technique is one when Alice and Peter are reflecting on their lives together - almost as if they are talking to one another, yet confiding in someone else.

Overall, the film is not horrible, it's just not as good as it could have been.

Rating:
Summary: Proof of intellignce
Review: "Proof of Life" is a fine little romatic thriller. Russel Crowe plays a corperate sponcered mercenary assigned to rescue kidnapped engineer David Morse. The company Morse works for fires him to avoid paying kidnapping insurance, and Crowe is sent home. Crowe then returns (on vacation) and helps Morses wife, Meg Ryan, to rescue the missing man. Ryan and Crowe seem to flirt a lot with real chemistry. The fact that they don't have any romantic scenes (except for a brief kiss) is very interesting, and I liked it; kind of a 'what could have been' situation. All the actors are very good. Ryan is pretty and worries just right. Crowe is the Rambo of the picture, and he dose it pretty well. David Curuso is campy and over the top, I loved his role. David Morse is the quiet hero; while he isn't the action hero Crowe is, he is calm, cool under fire, and holds up well to the stress. I liked him. The movie is pitched as both a romantic drama and an action thriller. Well, there isn't a lot of action; though what is there is well done. The romantic story is mostly implied, there isn't that much there to hold up a love story. Over all it is a good movie.

Rating:
Summary: Russell Crowe is Impressive, but Nothing Else Is.
Review: Writer Tony Gilroy took his inspiration for "Proof of Life" from a 1998 "Vanity Fair" article entitled "Adventures in the Ransom Trade" by William Prochneu. About 25,000 people are kidnapped and held for ransom every year. It's big business is some parts of the world. And just as there are professional kidnappers, there is a counter-industry of professional kidnap and ransom (K&R) consultants who specialize in getting the kidnap victims back at a (sort of) reasonable price. That's fascinating, and it sounds like an ideal subculture in which to situate a movie. Unfortunately, "Proof of Life" gives us little insight into the kidnap and ransom business and a whole lot of weak story.

Peter Bowman (David Morse) is an idealistic engineer who is in a fictional South American country to build a dam for an oil company that wants to barter the humanitarian project for permission to build an oil pipeline. When he is kidnapped and held for ransom by a guerilla group, a kidnap and ransom specialist named Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe) is retained by Bowman's employer to secure his release. Bowman's wife Alice (Meg Ryan) works closely with Thorne through the ups and downs of complicated negotiations designed to secure her husband's safe return.

"Proof of Life"s "hook" should be in the details of the "K&R" business. But, instead, the film tries to make the supposed tension between Alice and Terry Thorne its emotional focus. Trouble is, there is no tension. In spite of their much-publicized on-set romance, Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan have absolutely no on-screen chemistry. The script is terrible, and Meg Ryan isn't up to the task of making it work. She is utterly unconvincing as a distraught wife. If Alice isn't distraught, then perhaps she feels guilty for not missing her husband enough. Nope. Alice doesn't even come across as being stressed. The only thing notable at all about this character is her coiffure. Meg Ryan's 20 different shades of blonde, strategically placed among her never-a-hair-out-of-place 'do give the impression that this woman is coping with her husband's abduction by sitting in a chair at the beauty parlor 4 hours a day. I have nothing against movie stars looking like movie stars, but Ryan's hair style is so conspicuous that it made me laugh. Some natural-looking tousled curls would have been more keeping with her "little hippy" character and supposedly aggrieved state of mind. On a more positive note, David Morse is convincing as a kidnap victim. And Russell Crowe gives a fine performance in spite of weak dialogue. He is wonderfully charismatic as SAS veteran Terry Thorne, a consummate professional who feels unusually conflicted on this case. David Caruso is spotty in his supporting role as a fellow K&R guy. And Pamela Reed gives a nice performance as Peter's overbearing sister.

I hope that someone in Hollywood comes up with a good K&R script at some point. I'd love to see the movie. But I can only recommend "Proof of Life" to big Russell Crowe fans. I think his performance here is more imposing than in "Gladiator", although it's simply not as nuanced a role as in "L.A. Confidential" or "Master & Commander".

Rating:
Summary: Nice Ode to Russell's Muscles
Review: I'll be tactful enough to refrain from discussing the real-life drama surrounding Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe that began on the set of this movie, as there has been more than enough said. The storyline and acting were believable, the scenes of Ecuador lush and beautiful, and the sexual tension between Ryan's frail-looking but steely Alice Bowman and Crowe's cool-as-a-cucumber Terry Thorne is the engine that makes this story run.
The story centers on the kidnapping of Alice's engineer husband Peter in the fictional country of Tecala, and on Thorne's attempts to retrieve him. It is a journey that an audience can feel they have taken along with those involved, and it makes us wonder how we'd fare in similar circumstances.
As the victim, David Morse is frightened and cautious, but doesn't always refrain from expressing hostility towards his captors. Helped by a crazed missionary, he proved to be plucky and rescourceful.
David Caruso's Dino is the comic relief of the movie but smooth as cream when assisting Terry.
Pamela Reed is Peter's anxious sister who comes to Tecala to lend support to her sister-in-law. Interestingly, she and Peter didn't get along, but we see the strenghth of family ties in a moment of crisis from watching her.
Sarahi Echverria's Cinta is the emotionally fragile housekeeper who is instrumental in identifying the the mastermind behind the kidnapping.
The casual chatter between Terry and Alice is a pleasant and poignant diversion. Crowe displays a certain strength when consoling women and a certain pensive charm when listening to Alice's story of a personal loss. When Caruso mentions a comical incident involving Terry, Crowe momentarily lights up with laughter, flashing pearl-like teeth from a delicately crafted mouth, almost lighting up the room a bit more brightly than the candles being used to combat a power failure. Ryan's amusement at that moment has a frail majesty to it.
Apparently, at some point in a Crowe flick, there is usually an obligatory display of his powerful looking arms that are as thick as tree trunks. Scenes of him in his black tank top were/are used to hawk this movie, of course, and they were brief, but very effective.
We follow the movie to its poignant and slightly humourous conclusion, during which Thorne once more proves to be an astute miltary man, and Bowman gets to take a shot at his tormentors.
Ultimately, Thorne proves to be an honorable man as well, renouncing Alice once he completes his task.
I have to wonder about the accuracy of this movie as far as the kidnap and ransom trade is concerned. But if I haven't really learned anything new about hostage negotiations, my curiousity has been stimulated.

Rating:
Summary: Even Better On Second Viewing
Review: I'm not really an action movie fan, but I do like both Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe. Proof of Life defies catagorization in just one genre. It's a compelling blend of action, suspense, drama (and yes, subtle romance). I'll leave the details of the film's plotline to the excellent review by Tom Reynolds (2 below), but I had to comment because despite the mediocre reviews POL is garnering in the entertainment press, it really is worth seeing in the theatre - at least spring for a matinee! The cinematography is superb throughout (be sure to sit through the stunning arial landscapes in the closing credits). And what can I say about Russell Crowe other than that he continues to surprise me with his multi-dimensional characterizations. As Terry Thorne, hostage negotiator, he displays an outward stoicism that's tempered by his expressive eyes and the blend of physical prowess/emotional gentleness that's evident throughout the story. Crowe makes the audience believe that his character is just the guy to make a bad situation right. I liked Proof of Life the first time I saw it, and went back a few weeks later for a second dose -- it wears nicely!

Rating:
Summary: Russell Crowe Holds It Together
Review: "Proof of Life" has most of the ingredients for a psychological thriller/hot action film but it fails miserably is several areas. Crowe as Terry Thorne plays the part of a Kidnap/Ransom negotiator perfectly but Meg Ryan as Alice Bowman was a poor choice as the female lead; she is not believable in her role. The film is extremely long due to the constant cut aways to her kidnapped husband, Peter. These cutaways give the impression that his kidnappers took him on a trek to Tibet and they add at least 15-18 minutes of running time, bringing the total up to 135 minutes! The sub plot of Terry Thorne falling for Alice during the time he is trying desperately to save her husband's life is so subtle it is almost non existent. Thorne gives one brief indication of his inner (romantic)conflict to Alice in the last 20 minutes of the film. Before this, he has been living in her house for months negotiating the return of her husband. He has been in intimate contact with her every day and yet none of his feelings for her are revealed until that one ten second scene near the end of the film! Not very believable! The husband, Peter Bowman, is played as an unlikable **** from the start of the film so it is very hard to develop empathy for him in his plight. I was actually starting to hope that he WOULD get bumped off by the kidnappers. The ending of the film is disappointing and lacks any feeling of satisfying conclusion to the story but does leave a very obvious clue that there may be sequels! Overall, it's worth a look, if you can get it cheaply enough!

Rating:
Summary: You'll Have to Pay For This Proof Of Life
Review: Movie Summary: Alice and Peter Bowman have lived all over the world going wherever Peter's job as an engineer takes them. It has recently taken them to the Latin American country of Tecala. On his way to work one morning, Peter runs into a road block and is pulled from his car by rebels who make money by kidnapping executives who have Kidnap and Ransom insurance. Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe) shows up to take the case but has to leave when they find out that Peter Bowman wasn't insured by his firm. Terry returns a few days later and takes the case with no promise of getting paid for mysterious emotional reasons. He works side by side with Alice (Meg Ryan) fighting to reach a deal that will bring Peter home.

My Opinion: This movie was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I found it to be very gripping and exciting. I liked both Peter's plot line and Alice and Terry's. The contrast of the two situations was quite interesting. Peter in the mountains with no comforts, injured feet, and constant stress never knowing if he'll be killed and Terry and Alice in the city with the comforts, injured hearts, constant stress, and never knowing if Peter is alive. I would have liked the deleted love scene to be included as an extra feature on the DVD. I'm not sure if I would have liked the movie more or less with it in it. There is something compelling about unfulfilled forbidden love. What I do know is that David Caruso gives and awesome performance. This is the first thing that I have seen him in since NYPD Blue that I have actually liked. Had everything he'd done since leaving the show been this good, he'd be a lot bigger star today.

DVD Quality: Widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1, DD5.1. Extras include trailers, commentary, Making of Documentary.

What You Should Do: See it. A rental will probably do unless you are a Crowe or Ryan movie collector.

Rating:
Summary: Russell Crowe is Impressive, but Nothing Else Is.
Review: Writer Tony Gilroy took his inspiration for "Proof of Life" from a 1998 "Vanity Fair" article entitled "Adventures in the Ransom Trade" by William Prochneu. About 25,000 people are kidnapped and held for ransom every year. It's big business is some parts of the world. And just as there are professional kidnappers, there is a counter-industry of professional kidnap and ransom (K&R) consultants who specialize in getting the kidnap victims back at a (sort of) reasonable price. That's fascinating, and it sounds like an ideal subculture in which to situate a movie. Unfortunately, "Proof of Life" gives us little insight into the kidnap and ransom business and a whole lot of weak story.

Peter Bowman (David Morse) is an idealistic engineer who is in a fictional South American country to build a dam for an oil company that wants to barter the humanitarian project for permission to build an oil pipeline. When he is kidnapped and held for ransom by a guerilla group, a kidnap and ransom specialist named Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe) is retained by Bowman's employer to secure his release. Bowman's wife Alice (Meg Ryan) works closely with Thorne through the ups and downs of complicated negotiations designed to secure her husband's safe return.

"Proof of Life"s "hook" should be in the details of the "K&R" business. But, instead, the film tries to make the supposed tension between Alice and Terry Thorne its emotional focus. Trouble is, there is no tension. In spite of their much-publicized on-set romance, Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan have absolutely no on-screen chemistry. The script is terrible, and Meg Ryan isn't up to the task of making it work. She is utterly unconvincing as a distraught wife. If Alice isn't distraught, then perhaps she feels guilty for not missing her husband enough. Nope. Alice doesn't even come across as being stressed. The only thing notable at all about this character is her coiffure. Meg Ryan's 20 different shades of blonde, strategically placed among her never-a-hair-out-of-place 'do give the impression that this woman is coping with her husband's abduction by sitting in a chair at the beauty parlor 4 hours a day. I have nothing against movie stars looking like movie stars, but Ryan's hair style is so conspicuous that it made me laugh. Some natural-looking tousled curls would have been more keeping with her "little hippy" character and supposedly aggrieved state of mind. On a more positive note, David Morse is convincing as a kidnap victim. And Russell Crowe gives a fine performance in spite of weak dialogue. He is wonderfully charismatic as SAS veteran Terry Thorne, a consummate professional who feels unusually conflicted on this case. David Caruso is spotty in his supporting role as a fellow K&R guy. And Pamela Reed gives a nice performance as Peter's overbearing sister.

I hope that someone in Hollywood comes up with a good K&R script at some point. I'd love to see the movie. But I can only recommend "Proof of Life" to big Russell Crowe fans. I think his performance here is more imposing than in "Gladiator", although it's simply not as nuanced a role as in "L.A. Confidential" or "Master & Commander".

Rating:
Summary: Proof of intellignce
Review: "Proof of Life" is a fine little romatic thriller. Russel Crowe plays a corperate sponcered mercenary assigned to rescue kidnapped engineer David Morse. The company Morse works for fires him to avoid paying kidnapping insurance, and Crowe is sent home. Crowe then returns (on vacation) and helps Morses wife, Meg Ryan, to rescue the missing man. Ryan and Crowe seem to flirt a lot with real chemistry. The fact that they don't have any romantic scenes (except for a brief kiss) is very interesting, and I liked it; kind of a 'what could have been' situation. All the actors are very good. Ryan is pretty and worries just right. Crowe is the Rambo of the picture, and he dose it pretty well. David Curuso is campy and over the top, I loved his role. David Morse is the quiet hero; while he isn't the action hero Crowe is, he is calm, cool under fire, and holds up well to the stress. I liked him. The movie is pitched as both a romantic drama and an action thriller. Well, there isn't a lot of action; though what is there is well done. The romantic story is mostly implied, there isn't that much there to hold up a love story. Over all it is a good movie.