A film, that in my humble opinion, was nearly flawless. The acting, the dialogue, the camera work, the lighting, the way this tragic, true life event was dealt with and told by all involved, just all came together to create something rather remarkable, hard hitting and topical.
Jolie was utterly fantastic, I never once felt like I was watching an actress play a part, for me she became Mariane Pearl, a woman desperate to find her husband before it is too late. The scene when she finally learns that Danny is dead and she just screams was so incredibly powerful that it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. But as great as Jolie's performances was we shouldn't let it over shadow the rest of the supporting cast who were all equally amazing, especially Irfan Khan as the agent heading up the investigation from Karachi's end.
The use of the camera work felt more like we were watching a fly on the wall documentary rather than a Hollywood film, which obviosuly fit the whole purpose of the film a lot better, but for me it went beyond even that. By making it feel like it was a documentary it actually made me feel like I was watching these dreadful events unfold right before my eyes, only in my case I already knew the tragic ending and there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening.
Some of the dialogue was just outstanding, and went a long way in showing what an amazing woman Mariane Pearl really is, but then again the whole tragic story shows what an incredible woman she is. The scene when everyone who was involved in trying to save Danny sit down and eat together on her last night before she leave is just so moving, particularly her speech. It just really inspired me, the whole tragic story had a kind of brilliant, inspirational point to it. I mean the fact that Mariane is still a journalist today, she is still fighting for the same ideals that her and Danny shared, she isn't bitter, really show how even a tragic loss like Mariane's can't break you if you don't allow it. In the end I think that was the best tribute to both Danny and Mariane the film could have shown. That a good man died for just trying to stand by his ideals and beliefs and for fighting to make the world better, but his wife still doesn't give up on that belief.
I also don't think the film really needed the last line 'This film is for Adam' because I don't know about anyone else, but the whole way through the film I had in the back of my head if it has this effect on me how will it effect Adam when he is old enough to watch it and to understand what it shows about his parents. That said I am glad it was the last line because I think it just helped to bring the whole message of the film home to the audience, just in case someone had forgotten whilst sitting there that this tragedy actually happened to real people, and it is still effecting people today.
Overall it is just a tragic, beautiful, and inspiring film.
This movie focused too much on the facts of what was going on rather than getting inside the character's minds. Angelina Jolie does great work when she's given a chance to.
So far, I have not seen a Winterbottom film that I like. This one was much better than the last one I saw, however. I did feel that there would be more of a bond between the characters/actors, however, after watching the 30 minute introduction thing that was attached. They talked about how the actors grew into the story and bonded with the characters, and I didn't actually get that feel from the movie at all. Honestly, I expected it to be better. It was slow and the acting wasn't even that good. There were only some moments of brilliance on the part of Angelina Jolie, and it seemed that her accent even went in and out at times. It's an important story to tell, so I am glad I watched it, but I won't be seeing it again.
Any, even amateur documentary is better than this one! Boring and pointless...how many journalists die every day,leaving their families and children.What is so special about his wife? Ah,yes, she's played by Angelina Jolie...I love her, but this is one more disappointment in her choice of roles. :(
Good movie but quite long-winded at points. Acting is a bit poor to me but the fact it was based on a true story and I already knew the outcome easily helped me overlook the acting.
Good movie... MIGHTY HEART is an important film with a tremendous performance from Angelina Jolie and a superb cast that joins her on screen in a story that captures the fear of terrorism which we live with today. From the first frame to the final scene, the power of the camera which moves across the streets of Karachi and into the homes of its citizens, creates a pulse that moves the film forward with both excitement, dread and fear. Fear for not only Daniel Pearl's life, but for many victims of the destructive nature of terrorism the world over. The film is intelligent, suspenseful, and captures the world of technology which we live in today-cell phones, IP addresses, computers and laptops and the Internet-which connects us to both good and evil. There is an anti-American underlying theme in the film and through what America has done in both Afghanistan and Iraq, the audience can fathom the hatred felt for America in many parts of the world. Thus, MIGHTY HEART is a film which delivers both a tragic story, but also one for the United States of America as it continues the violent war in Iraq. I like it.
The most boring movie I've seen all year. I'm still happy to have seen it, but how long did they have to make this? If not for Angelina Jolie, this would never have interested anyone in the general public.
This "based on true events" film stars Angelina Jolie as the wife of Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl, who disappeared and popped up on a terrorist hostage video somewhere "over there." Jolie is heart-wrenching as the soon to be bursting pregnant wife and Dan Futterman is effective as Daniel. Michael Winterbottom (THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO, IN THIS WORLD) brings a documentary-esque quality to his direction, lending this an immediacy - even for those who know the outcome.
"And kidnappers - their point is to terrorize people. But *I* am not terrorized, and *you* can't be terrorized."
A Mighty Heart wasn't an easy film to make this film work. Some stories don't need - or at least shouldn't need - to be put into a film to get its message across. Unfortunely, these days most do, so... to tell a story worth telling, such as A Mighty Heart's, in the end never be considered condemnable.
Even though I'm sure many people hadn't even heard of Mariane Pearl until the word was out that she would be played by Angelina Jolie, her story isn't new to anyone who watches the news. It was 5 years ago. Mariane's husband, Wall Street Journal American and Jewish-born reporter Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman), on assignment in Karachi, Pakistan, vanished as he followed a promising tip which he expected to lead to a face-to-face interview with Sheik Mubarak Ali Gilani (Ikram Bhatti), a religious figure rumoured to be behind assorted al-Qaeda operations, including shoe bomber Richard Reid's aborted plot to bring down an airliner over the Atlantic. Such meeting would turn out to be a trap and Pearl kidnapped and eventually executed.
With some elements of a political thriller, the film focuses essentially on the widow's personal point of view, after all the film is based on her best-selling memoir. Mariane's five infernal weeks are the core of the film. Angelina Jolie, in the greatest performance of her career since Girl, Interrupted, is the heart and soul of A Mighty Heart, taking us on a journey of anguish, torment and vulnerability. Parallelly to Mariane's struggle, we follow the investigation into Pearl's disappearance. Winterbottom creates a breathtaking and surprisingly thrilling (considering the fact that the outcome is already known) procedural that rests largely on the passionate but ultimately impotent Pakistani police chief (a terrific performance by Irfan Khan).
Michael Winterbottom was the only man who could direct this film. As simple as that. If any other filmmaker (especially American) had gotten his hands on this script (by John Orloff( first, the result would certainly be disastrous. His objective, sometimes cold way to tell stories, allied with the humanity he manages to inject in them, makes him perfect for the job. Just like he did with In This World and The Road to Guantanamo, both extremely political films who happen to deal with the most important issue of today's global scene - the apparently never-ending conflict between the U.S. and the Middle East - he never takes sides, even dealing with such a delicate subject as terrorism. Tells the story he's supposed to, doesn't hide anything, but never adopts a 'Pro' neither an 'Anti' American approach while doing so. Few other filmmakers could achieve that.
Using the tools of documentary filmmakers and cinéma vérité (lots of-hand-held camera work, the sense that there's been limited editing, and plenty of natural, often overlapping sound), he gives the film the sense of realism it needed. Far from the brilliance of his previous works, but still an important film with an important message - of tolerance and incentive to dialogue - that also serves as a tribute to one of the most originally noble professions that ever existed - the one of Journalist.
Definitely a heartfelt movie with a fantastic performance by Angelina Jolie. A really good look at the result of conflicts around the world and especially of the situation the Pearl family went through.
If only this film had put more emphasis on Jolie and her part this might have been better. A true DOCUDRAMA- not a drama, it follows the tragic story of Mariane Pearl switching from her endless fight for answers to Pakistani interogation. The former is better than the latter but the latter took up more time. Jolie gives a trancendant performance sounding and looking very little like herself. She dominates her scenes and you feel every emotion she feels. Then some Pakistani needs to be questioned and that goes on for 20 minutes with a lot of Dutch angles and handhelds. Then back to her, then back to the crappy part. So really if she had dominated more, it would have been better!
Although I looked forward to this movie with some anticipation I found it to be exceptionally slow, a lot of scenes of traffic and such in Karachi and although well told overall it wasn't a very entertaining movie.
Interesting adaption of a real life event. Good performance by Angelina Jolie.I think it'simportant not only for journalist but for society in general to be aware of this situations.
I first watched this story on HBO.There was a documentary about what had happened .I had no idea that the film that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie made was about Daniel and Marianne.Such a compelling film.The whole truth and nothing but that.Great story yet heartbreaking.
This movie tells the very sad story of Marianne Pear as she goes through the drama of trying to track down the terrorists who have kidnapped her husband. Angelina Jolie delivers a powerful performance. Puffs are definitely needed towards the end of the film.
I like Michael Winterbottom but he's stick of documentary style dramas is getting old (he needs to try something new), Angelina Jolie is good but it's basicly a rundown to the event's to Daniel Pearl's beheading, it's pretty disposable.
The storyline is excellent and the acting is pretty good. I didn't like how the movie was put together, it wasn't as emotionally convincing as it could be. Overall it was good though.
It was interesting to see how they track down terrorists using mobile phone records etc. But unless you're American and already know the story there's very little else to interest. I needed to get to know the Daniel character before he was killed off.
MCT:October 1, 2008
MCT:September 25, 2008
MCT:September 14, 2008
MCT:September 10, 2008
MCT:August 16, 2008
MCT:July 30, 2008
MCT:June 6, 2008
