The Whistleblower

Movie: The Whistleblower

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Kathy (Rachel Weisz) is a Nebraska police officer.  She is hired by a State Department contractor to be part of the United Nations peacekeeping force in post-war Bosnia.  While there, she discovers that there are very young girls being held in brothels as sex slaves.  As Kathy investigates, she finds the she has only scratched the surface, not only are the local police involved, but members of the U.N. peacekeeping force are actually helping smuggle the kidnapped girls into Bosnia.  Then, higher-ups decide to shutdown Kathy’s investigation, forcing her to take some extreme measures. Also stars Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn and Monica Bellucci.

My two cents: I had to keep reminding myself that the events in this movie really happened.  The things these poor girls are put through and forced to do are unimaginable.  And equally unimaginable is how anyone could allow things like this to occur and then protect to perpetrators, much less to actually participate.  Kathy put her own life in jeopardy to try and make the world aware of these atrocities.  This was a tough movie to watch . . . but one that needs to be seen.  Rachel Weisz turns in a great performance.

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The Names of Love

Movie: The Names of Love

Genre: comedy (French, with subtitles)

Synopsis: Baya (Sara Forestier) is a very liberal French woman who is a bit of a hippy.  Arthur Martin (Jaques Gamblin) is a very straight-laced government scientist –  he is an expert on avian-born diseases.  Her mother was raised in a wealthy family and rebelled by marrying an Algerian immigrant.  His parents both fled to France from Germany during World War II after their parents were killed by the Nazis. Baya has a mission in life – she sleeps with righ-wingers in the belief that her actions make them more liberal.  Although an unlikely couple, Baya and Arthur take a liking to each other.  The movie follows their relationship through its ups and downs.

My two cents: I liked this movie. . . it was definitely not your typical comedy.

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Higher Ground

Movie: Higher Ground

Genre: drama

Synopsis: Corrine (Vera Farmiga, who also directed) has had faith issues all her life.  As a young girl in a ‘Christian’ church, she goes through the motions of accepting Jesus into her life – but did not really mean it.  The movie follows her through her life as she lives an extremely religious life, only to end up still having doubts.

My two cents: An interesting movie.  I am always fascinated by – as well as a bit frightened by – the religious types who feel it is appropriate to pray for everything under the sun – who absolutely believe that everything that happens is God’s will and should be accepted as such.  A woman has a brain tumor that leaves her a vegetable, and her husband says they must accept it as God’s will.  While that type of faith is not my cup of tea.  I enjoyed the movie and thought that Vera Farmiga gave a great performance.  It was very thought provoking to watch her character’s struggle with faith and belief. . . . but this movie will not be everyone’s cup of tea.

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The Guard

Movie: The Guard

Genre: crime thriller / comedy

Synopsis: Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is a rather unconventional detective in a small Irish town.  Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) is an FBI agent in Ireland on the trail of drug dealers.  Boyle and Everett form an uneasy partnership to bring down the drug dealers.

My two cents: This was a pretty good movie.  Brendan Gleeson was great at playing a seemingly bumbling detective.  To paraphrase Don Cheadle’s character:  You don’t know if Boyle is really really stupid or really really smart.  This movie is definitely worth watching.

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