Proof of Life (2000)

Proof of Star Power

Based upon a Vanity Fair article ("Adventures In The Ransom Trade" by William Prochnau) and a man's personal account of an abduction by Colombian guerillas (Tom Hargrove), "Proof of Life" sports an exclusive cast and talented filmmakers but retained the misfortune of unfavorable media prior to its release. This $70 million escapade from director Taylor Hackford (Ray) began screening in December of 2000 after much-publicized debate on the relationship between leading lady Meg Ryan and co-star Russell Crowe. Hackford was dismayed by the predatory slant of the press, remarking that "people put a huge amount of time, effort and talent into this and it's being usurped by the tabloids. They say there's no publicity that's bad publicity, but I'm not so sure." Over 20 people reportedly left the production because of altitude sickness (filming took place in the Ecuadorian mountains) and the set was plagued by the death of stuntman William Gaffney, an automobile plunge off a cliff during a routine shot killing him instantly.

Most of the story is set in a fictionalized South American country called Tecala, Alice Bowman (Ryan) currently residing there with her industrial engineer husband Peter (Morse). Peter's job has required him to consistently relocate and Alice has grudgingly packed her bags each time, resentful of their inability to root themselves in one place. Tecala is a state known for its high rate of kidnapping and one morning as Peter braves a jungle roadway, he encounters a guerilla barricade and is taken hostage, his captors hiding him away in the misty and suffocating atmosphere of the Andes. Any hope that Alice had of peace and quiet is shattered, Peter's captors demanding thousands of dollars in ransom for his return. She is well lacking of their demands and becomes desperate for a solution, her sister-in-law Janis (Reed) her only solace. A couple of phone calls later, Terry Thorne (Crowe), a trained negotiator, is brought to the scene and the negotiation process for Peter commences. During his arduous parleys with Peter's captors, Terry's relationship with Alice becomes more than platonic and he is faced with a moral dilemma. It is at this point that the movie loses a little credibility, its histrionic excitement forfeited for the divulgence of forbidden romance.

This is the third collaboration for Hackford and screenwriter Tony Gilroy, the two having worked together previously on "The Devil's Advocate" and "Dolores Claiborne". Hackford admitted during an interview that he had filmed a more explicit love scene between Crowe and Ryan but it didn't make the final cut, stating that it was solely his decision to remove it and that "too much romance detracts from the action-adventure; I wanted the relationship between the characters to be tenuous and ambiguous ". This was a wise choice on Hackford's part because even the desperate kiss that Crowe steals from Ryan before heading out into combat is somewhat superfluous and baffling (yet it remained in the film, a small and enigmatic remnant of Hackford's missing footage).

Morse underwent the grueling task of slimming down for his scenes in the misty mountaintops, getting gaunt on a diet prepared by the doctor who thinned down Tom Hanks for "Cast Away". This guy rarely gives a bad performance (The Green Mile, Hearts In Atlantis, Dancer In The Dark, etc.) and is equally impressive here as the stonewalling Peter. Ryan has the potential to be a great dramatic actress (When A Man Loves A Woman, City of Angels) but because of her numerous roles in romantic comedies, there is the feeling that she is miscast. Ridley Scott's Greco-Roman juggernaut "Gladiator" was released over six months prior to "Proof Of Life", creating a nice buzz for Crowe and giving the film a beneficial boost in ticket sales. It certainly didn't hurt either that Crowe garnered an Academy Award nomination the year prior for the role of Jeffrey Wigand in "The Insider". It's just as well that he gives a good performance here as Terry Thorne. David Caruso makes an appearance in a small role - with what little times he gets, I believe it's the most entertaining performance I've ever seen from him.

Bottom line: If you see "Proof of Life", go for the suspenseful storytelling and remember that it's not very far removed from what happened to a real guy (Tom Hargrove). Truth is far stranger than fiction - and much more interesting. June 23, 2008

Good movie - disappointment about region code

I made the effort of actually order the dvd-movie from amazon to do everything correctly according to the law. I was very disappointed when the dvd was delivered and it had another region code than in the region I live in (and ordered from). I took for granted amazon took care of this problem. The movie is good (if I could see it) but the handeling from amazon in this case is poor, in relation to my expectations. They expected me to know that there are region codes and that they are different in US and Europe. I would have wanted to know this, since the product is absolutely useless for me. June 19, 2008

Sucked because Meg Ryan was in it - no more explanation needed

But if you must know. It's the usual pathetic acting job by Meg Ryan that really brings down this movie. Little wonder most of her movies in the past 8 years have sucked. I can't believe she's cast in serious roles. Never works. Don't waste your time with this one, unless you're a Russell Crowe fan - then it's all right. May 20, 2008

Proof that editors add value

If there was ever an argument for a good editor, this movie is it. The key elements of a great story are there. The characters are there. The lush visuals and outstanding photography are there. In fact, I find myself using the Chapter Select option more on this movie than any other in a collection of 400+ to jump to the action sequences, which are outstanding, or just to watch the sweeping photography of the cityscape and slums of latin america, fading into the jungles and mountains over which the final credits play.

What the movie needed more than anything was a hard-handed edit to chop out the extraneous garbage about Peter and Alice's backstory. We really didn't need to know (or care) about their marital conflict or any of the backstory about Africa or their lost child. These are not integral to the core plot: guerillas kidnap Peter, and Alice needs to learn a lot about the kidnap and ransom business and raise a substantial sum of money in a very short period of time. She also needs to learn who she can trust and how to get things done in the local culture. Meanwhile, Peter is learning how to avoid his captors' ire, and trying to cope with his fear and isolation as he is led farther and farther away from the civilization he has always known into the depths of the mountains and jungles. These are interesting issues and could have easily carried the film by themselves without all of the domestic filler, which proves to be a huge distraction.

If such a director's cut could be created, it would make this movie a five-star movie and I'd shell out the cash on the release date without a second thought. Unfortunately, due to the stigma associated with the release and lack of commercial success, that seems highly unlikely. The movie also cries out for a sequal with Caruso and Crowe's characters carrying out further K&R negotiations and rescues, but, again, that possibility seems remote. June 3, 2007

Action, Ideas, and Doing the Right Thing

Terry Thorne (Russel Crowe), a kidnap and ransom negotiator for an insurance company, is sent to the country of Tecala in South America to negotiate the release of engineer Peter Bowman (David Morse). The insurance is canceled, as well as the negotiation, but Peter's wife Alice (Meg Ryan) asks Terry to help and they both have to cope with their growing attraction as they work together.

Taylor Hackford's film is doubly courageous and unique:

First, it addresses the idea of private rescue, both business and personal, in an age when most people look to the state for protection from criminals. Proof of Life not only illustrates the business aspect of private rescue (through an insurance company), but the idea that personal action of rescue can come from the the heart. Some reviewers try to include the state as a player by mentioning that the kidnapers are antigovernment and that Thorne once worked for a government.

Second, the movie illustrates doing the right thing (though perhaps after stepping over the line depending on how the viewer interprets one scene).

This is rated R and the foul language and profanity are very bad. The language issue makes it hard to share the movie with others. I considered dropping a star, but because of the above two points did not.

Action and ideas in a very good movie. March 18, 2007

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