A Mighty Heart

views updated

A Mighty Heart ★★★ 2007 (R)

Based on Mariane Pearl's memoir about the kidnapping and execution of her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel, when he was on assignment in Karachi, Pakistan in 2002. His beheading by Islamic extremists was videotaped for broadcast on the Internet while the pregnant Mariane (a journalist herself) worked her way through bureaucrats and false leads to get answers. Brit director Winterbottom has done films on the complexities of the Mideast before, and he treats his harrowing story matter-of-factly. Jolie (a somewhat controversial choice for the role) does a fine, low-key job with Futterman, as Daniel, in flashbacks during happier times. 103m/C DVD, HD DVD . US Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Will Patton, Archie Panjabi, Irfan Khan, Denis O'Hare, Sajid Hasan, Gary Wilmes; D: Michael Winterbottom; W: Michael Winterbottom, Laurence Coriat, John Orloff; C: Marcel Zyskind; M: Molly Nyman, Harry Escott.