Rating: 
Summary: Deleted scenes
Review: What I really want to see are the deleted love scenes that Taylor Hackford originally had in the movie. That would explain the unsatisfying ending between Alice and Terry. Their relationship would have made more sense.
Rating:
Summary: Better research maybe? Maybe better writing?
Review: I've been a fan of Taylor Hackford's since the great Devil's Advocate. However, Proof of Life is not up to par with DA. In my opinion, and I base this on the fact that I am in fact a practicing screenwriter, Proof of Life contains some of the most trite, worthless dialog I've ever seen. But it is given with such conviction by David Morse and Russell Crowe that they sometimes make it fly. I myself have written a film based on a magazine article, so I know how hard it can be to complete the amount of research that is needed to pull something like this off, and more research is exactly what was needed to help get this film truly moving. After a brilliantly staged opening, the film moves off by trying to show how much knowledge Tony Gilroy thinks he has on the K&R subject. However, it never takes off and ends up being stuck in fourth gear and not shifting into overdrive until the absolutely amazing climax.The action scenes are extremely well done, and this is thanks to Hackford's great eye and not Gilroy's script at all. By trying to create the tension of a romantic triangle, the film pulls away from the action that it could've had and joins the other "Almost" films that could've been brilliant, but never quite made it. After seeing a sound byte that called the film "Casablanca with firepower," I was psyched to see how this was done, but nothing never really meets this expectation. Whole parts of this film are lifted straight out of Casablanca and you can tell that Gilroy was really trying to prove he was original and smart. However, the parts that everyone will notice feel cheap and detract from the film. If this had been a straight action film, it could've been really great, but instead it gets stuck in mediocrity in its own pretentiousness. The performances are very good, especially Crowe and Morse, but the only actor that is truly annoying is Meg Ryan as Alice. You can tell that the filmmakers were hoping that the off-camera romance between Ryan and Crowe qould help fuel what happens on screen, but it doesn't really matter because the scenes involving the blossoming romance come out of nowhere and feel completely out of place. If this film had better cohesion and pacing, it could've been a monster of a good film. Instead, it slips into that "okay" state that crushes so many films of this kind.
Rating:
Summary: New sex symbol Russell Crowe still doesn't "get the girl"
Review: I am an avid Russell Crowe fan, which is the only reason I went to see this movie, and boy, was I disappointed. Russell looked tired, and we didn't get to see him in action (and see the arms) until the end of the film. By that time, I was really tired of watching Meg Ryan display her extensive wardrobe and demonstrate how appealing she looks when she cries. She was sad because her husband was kidnapped-I got it- and she was feeling guilty because she was attracted to Russell Crowe's Terry Thorne. The storyline involving the romance between those two was thoroughly telegraphed by the public romance, and I have to agree with the director that it hindered efforts to advertise the movie. In fact, the bad publicity aimed at Crowe almost cost him the Academy Award that he so richly deserved for Gladiator. I can see why he was drawn to this character- he excels at playing tough guys with a heart of gold. But we couldn't root for him in this film because we knew from the start that he was not going to end up with Meg. The script-at least as much of it as appeared on the screen- was weak. The motivation of Thorne to take on Meg Ryan as a client for no charge could have been explained better. It appeared that his company wanted to promote him out of operations, and he was not ready to leave the field operations to others. That makes more sense then some sappy instant attraction between this hardened veteran and the hippie queen. The ending was thoroughly disappointing. There is a fake-out about Thorne being blinded, then we see the restrained good-bye between Thorne and Meg's character, and then we see the genuine side of Thorne's character: the male bonding at the end. The best chemistry in the movie was between David Caruso and Russell Crowe. As the credits rolled, I thought to myself: Russell, you are our newest sex symbol, and you've made another movie where you don't get the girl. And now he's making a film about a schizophrenic mathematician. Would someone explain to Russell why he appeals to his legions of female fans, and give us a good romance with a sex scene to cement the relationship?
Rating: 
Summary: Weak Script that does not make a good film
Review: The script was weak, the acting, with the exception of Crowe and Morese was not that good and the whole thing with the "relationship " between Crowe and Ryan was blown way out of proportion. The scenery is beautiful but it is predictable.
Rating:
Summary: Nokia Communicator
Review: A story about a hostage negotiator who flies to Colombia to negotiate ransom for Peter Bowman (David Morse). The story could have turned into a soap opera when Crowe falls in love with Peter's wife Alicia Bowman (Meg Ryan). Why save her husband when you want her? As a great Russell Crowe fan I was quite disappointed by both this movie as his performance as an actor. Why go for a project like this? The story is just not strong enough to stay awake watching this DVD. Even some mistakes which will be fun to look out for: David Morse talks into the wrong side of his phone (a Nokia Communicator) twice.
Rating: 
Summary: The best film of the year so far
Review: Although i generally consider myself to be more of a romantic comedy girl, i was not disappointed after seeing Proof of Life. Gripping from the beginning till the end, it generally had me excited and nervous all the way through. The gorgeous back drop of mountainous Ecuador enhanced the film so much i am planning to go there sometime next year. Great performances from the three leads that portray exactly what most would feel like in that situation. Overall, i loved it to bits and i thoroughly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Action with a Slight Bit of Romance
Review: Russell Crowe, Academy Award winner for Gladiator, turns out that he can pull of a non-epic just as well. In this film he plays a slightly disturbed KNR (Kidnap and Ransom) Officer that gets assigned to a small case dealing with a worker building a dam for an oil company. David Morse plays the captive, stolen right out of his car in Tecala. Meg Ryan plays his disoriented wife that puts all of her faith in Crowe's character. The movie is slow at times. Fast at others. It opens with a great action scene, and people looking for an action movie will not be dissapointed. It was a compelling film and the acting by Crowe, Morse, Ryan, and the long time forgotten David Caruso (who gives the best role in his career). You have to check this one out.
Rating:
Summary: Forget GLADIATOR
Review: Rule number one to accept this movie is to forget that you ever saw Russell Crowe in the Master Piece "GLADIATOR"! Russell Crowe managed well to attract big number of us to attend this movie... but the movie itself failed to satisfy us! It is a weak ransom movie that I find insulting to audience's intelligence due to the fast meaningless love bond that got developed between Meg Ryan & Russell Crowe. This relation developed out of no where..! Meg Ryan reminded me of her great movie "City Of Angels", you can see her cry on the floor as if it was the same scene taken from her older movie... still she made a good job but she never had enough influence due to the character weak role and lines! There are so many weak points in this movie... but you may still be able to enjoy the movie as long as you do not remember Russell Crowe in Gladiator! I recommend seeing it before buying it!
Rating: 
Summary: Screenwriter Tony Gilroy Insulted Audience's Intelligence
Review: Russell Crowe is truly one of the greatest actors of our era. His very presence virtually guarantees a film worth seeing. Nevertheless, "Proof of Life" was definitely not a box office winner. It may even have lost money. Why did this happen? After all, "Proof of Life" was released later in the same year as the fabulously successful "Gladiator" and also co-starred a number of notable actors like Meg Ryan, David Morse, and David Caruso. How much blame should be directed at screen writer Tony Gilroy who insulted the audiences intelligence with the infantile character portrayed by Meg Ryan? Crowe's 1999 film "The Insider" focussed solely upon the immorality of the companies marketing tobacco products. The movie was fair and balanced, and definitely not a per se attack upon our capitalist economy. This, however, is regretfully not what occurred in "Proof of Life." The wife of the kidnapped victim is depicted as an pampered former hippie who embraces an immature and unsophisticated grasp of economic reality. She utterly fails to comprehend how the expansion of capitalist investment is mandatory if poverty is ever to be eradicated in the Third World. Throughout the film we had to endure the wife's mindless comments on matters she knew little about. I personally got to the point where I cringed every time Meg Ryan came onto the screen. The very premise of "Proof of Life" seems to imply that oil companies are innately evil. This supposed fact is so self explanatory that nothing further needs to be added. Tony Gilroy apparently believes that politically correct hitting below the belt extremist Liberalism is the appropriate way to create a film script. That movie goers stayed away in droves should give Gilroy and the producers of "Proof of Life" something to think about. Why didn't David Morse receive an supporting actor's Academy Award nomination for his splendid performance of the kidnapped husband? It irritates me to no end to see great work ignored likely because the film failed to attract long lines at the box office. Meg Ryan did the best she could considering the awful lines provided to her by Gilroy. David Curuso filled in admirably as Thorne's (Crowe) mercenary comrade. Why is Curuso unable to make the leap as a leading man? I can't put my finger on it, but so far Caruso does much better as a supporting actor. The subject matter of hostage taking is also very timely. This is a growing crisis in every area of our planet. It is a relatively easy way for criminals and political ideologues to acquire substantial funds. "Proof of Life" does a fine job in revealing the mindset of these despicable groups. I have no problem recommending this movie. One must merely grit their teeth whenever the Alice Bowman character makes an appearance. This film is unfortunately doomed to be seen only by the true fans of Russell Crowe. It deserves far more adulation and respect, but the damage resulting from Tony Gilroy's ultra left-wing script is too overwhelming. Is "Proof of Life" a five star movie? No, but it still earns four stars because of the acting greatness of both Russell Crowe and David Morse.
Rating:
Summary: Looks better after second viewing
Review: This movie about the negotiator Therry Thorne who, to clear his conscience, undertakes to rescue desperate Alice Bowman's husband, who is being held hostage by some South American guerrillas, has been eagerly anticipated by Crowe's fans (and not only by them) and deserves especial scrutiny after Gladiator's overwhelming success. However, I've nothing new to say about the Gladi-actor: Crowe's set of facial expressions may be limited (as some critic said), but he's got enough of them to show his character's tough and reserved exterior, as well as sensitive, tender hidden feelings, mostly betrayed through his eyes. The story is pushed along by Crowe's charisma and persuasive performance. True, the movie drags slowly for the first 40 minutes, but as Thorne steps into business, things start rolling. And it's always a treat to see Crowe in action scenes. D Morse's performance has won much praise and I can only join my voice to them: the audience roots for him - courageous and suffering Peter Bowman. As to Alice Bowman, some reviewers critisized her harshly and called her bad names, but I'd not judge her so harsh: we can't blame her for falling for Thorne (hey, girls, wouldn't you?), considering his charm and her despair and need for support. The problem is that M Ryan succeeds in showing she's falling for Thorne much more convincingly than showing she still loves her husband and wants him back (she should seriously concentrate her acting efforts on that). I sincerely tried to like her, but Ryan simply is not the actress to reflect her Alice pulling out such moral dilemma. While Crowe easily keeps distance (although his eyes betray reflection of hidden feelings), his Therry being supportive and compassionate, delightful glitter in Alice's eyes says "I can't wait to be left tete-a-tete with this guy" (like in a scene in the airport, when Peter's sister is leaving). While captive Peter's reminiscences of Alice are touching and she remains his only hope to keep himself sane, her direct stares at Thorne and lame theatrics are unsettling and annoying. This plot line is a complete dead-end. To sum up, it's a good thriller about patience, courage, self-sacrifice and dangers of working in Equador, spoiled by hit-and-miss attempts to water it with lame romance. I watced POL twice and liked it more after the second viewing.Good enough for all Crowe fans, but might have been excellent. Might have been...
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