Movie Breakdown: The Mauritanian
Pre-Screening Stance:
The Mauritanian is a legal drama, which I’m generally a sucker for, and it’s directed by Kevin Macdonald, who has done some great stuff, such as Touching The Void, The Last King of Scotland and Marley. I’m in.
Post-Screening Ramble:
Like the recently released United States vs. Billie Holiday (you can read that review here), The Mauritanian is a film that has all the right pieces on paper – a good director, a great cast and a true story that deserves to be told – but it doesn’t quite work.
For those unfamiliar with Mohamedou Ould Salahi (Tahar Rahim), he’s a man who was tossed into Guantanamo Bay and held there for 14 years without a single charge ever being filed against him, and this film is based on his memoir, Guantanamo Diary. One part of it is a legal drama, with defense attorneys Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) working against military prosecutor Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), and the second part covers Salahi’s experience inside of the detention camp. Both elements have interesting stretches, but this is a film that likely should have picked one side to focus on and then figured out a clever way to incorporate the other because as it stands, this over-directed affair tries to show and do so much that it works against itself and makes the story hard to connect with. It’s too bad, really, as what happened to Salahi was awful (and should be further exposed) and the film does feature standout work from both Rahim and Foster.
If you are down to trudge through a very coldly presented take on Salahi’s story, then you should check out The Mauritanian. Otherwise, maybe just read the man’s book. The film is in theaters now and will hit VOD this Tuesday, March 2.
One Last Thought:
Zachary Levi is entirely out of place in this film as a shady government lackey, and it’s because he’s very much one of those actors who should only portray characters that are nice and genuine. Otherwise it just doesn’t work.
