Yet films about idealistic Americans abroad (usually journalists) work more often than not, and this one s no exception. Based on Mariane Pearl s book A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl , the film finds Jolie delivering a restrained performance as Mariane, whose husband (played by Dan Futterman), a reporter, is kidnapped while the pair are living in Pakistan in 2002. Six months pregnant, Mariane tries to stay optimistic in the face of this grim situation, using her own sources to track him down while also relying heavily on the aid of the Pakistani anti-terrorism unit, American diplomats and the FBI.
In fact, her outer fortitude is occasionally misinterpreted as a lack of concern (i.e. the Lindy The dingo s got my baby Chamberlain syndrome), which leads some to foolishly question her devotion to her husband.
But all that matters to Mariane is having her spouse returned to her, and, given Hollywood s propensity for promoting American know-how as well as its can-do attitude, it s perhaps the movie s most surprising development that the efforts of the Pakistanis not the U.S. law officials go the furthest toward cracking the case and bringing the terrorists to justice.
As the local lawmen and their stoolies scour the streets looking for any clues that will help them find Danny, we realize this isn t like looking for a needle in a haystack it s like looking for a needle in the Atlantic Ocean. So when their tireless efforts lead to real success (muted by the final outcome, of course), it s a testament to their determination and resourcefulness. The real Mariane Pearl is a Frenchwoman of Afro-Cuban and Dutch heritage, but the minor stir caused by the casting of Jolie will soon be dissipated in the face of her exemplary performance in the role.
Yet the real talent to watch in is Indian actor Irrfan Khan, who figures prominently as the sympathetic Pakistani captain who employs whatever methods are required to locate Danny Pearl. The Bollywood mainstay s work in this picture is impressive enough on its own terms, but when coupled with his superb efforts as the Indian immigrant in the spring sleeper , it s obvious that here s an international star whose skills apparently know no boundaries. The Return of the King aside, isn t it accepted in fact, isn t it pretty much gospel that the third picture in any given trilogy is when the series has totally lost it, when the filmmakers have been completely replaced by pimps and profiteers?
So how is it possible that has emerged as the best of this star-studded franchise? True, all three films have basically been an excuse for director Steven Soderbergh and his high-voltage friends to take paid vacations in trendy, plush locales under the pretense of making motion pictures if life was fair, then resort timeshares would have been handed out with movie tickets so that audiences could also join in the festivities. Yet films about idealistic Americans abroad (usually journalists) work more often than not, and this one s no exception.
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