Rendition [2007]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
A politically-charged, compelling drama, Rendition sees director Gavin Hood follow up the extraordinary, Oscar-winning Tsotsi with another challenging, quality piece of cinema. This time, his attention focuses on the story of a man who is kidnapped, and shipped off to be imprisoned abroad. The reason? Suspected terrorism. And his wife has no idea where he is and what's happened.

In lesser hands, Rendition could have really struggled to make its mark, but Hood very much knows what he's doing, and his film is excellent, right up to--and including--its final reel. His cast help him immensely, with Alan Arkin and Meryl Streep offering terrific support to the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Rendition does have some problems. Its pace sometimes wavers a little, some of the roles are slighter than you'd like, and sometimes the American-based elements pull the film back. But these are minor gripes that seem unfair to level at an ambitious drama, that is fearless about addressing issues of morality. Tightly woven on the whole, and sticking in your head long after the end credits have rolled, Rendition is intelligent film-making, that pulls very few punches. Those after an action feast are clearly advised to head in the other direction; those looking for a film to engage the brain are very much welcome, and set to be richly rewarded. --Jon Foster

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-09-27 rating:
Thought provoking movie
I watched this on a whim. At nearly two hours long I kind of expected it to be one of those oh hurry up movies but I watched in a one-r and never checked the clock once.

Really well made movie, well filmed, matching music, good acting, good story. Not a light movie, makes you think. Well worth watching.

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review by: date: 2008-08-18 rating:
bit boring
i was looking forward to this film but was very disapointed it never got going really and alomst fell asleep twice it was that boring it could of been alot better.

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review by: JEN B date: 2008-07-19 rating:
Great Thriller!
This film keeps you gripped from the start, a well acted film. I think jake gyllenhall is a great actor and is really good in this film.

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review by: date: 2008-07-09 rating:
Disturbing
I'm glad that this film was made. The issue covered in this film needs to be made public as many people don't know about `rendition' and the ramifications of this government rule.

The torture scenes are indescribably horrific but I suppose they needed to make the film as graphically `real' as possible. What I found most disturbing is that the incident that happened in the film has probably happened to countless people. The only part of the film which I found unbelievable was the ending; I sincerely doubt that there is a `light at the end of the tunnel' in reality.

The film was well-casted and the acting was so powerful, I needed to remind myself that I was watching a film and not a documentary.



review by: date: 2008-06-03 rating:
Excellent with original twist
Once you have got your head round who the different characters are and how they fit together (which takes about 15 mins) then this movie turns into a real treat. It is about counter terrorism and the morality of torture as a means to an end. The very occasional torture scenes do get the balance right between being realistic and suitably unpleasant, but not overly gratuitous, so don't less this put you off.

Absorbing, atmospheric, morally challenging, and seemingly very realistic, with good perfomances by all the cast. I also liked the fact that it was (IMO) neither pro or anti American per se, both sides are portrayed without glamour (and both can be condemned). I think you could also argue that there is no "good guy" which spoils many a film.

I love films with twists in the tale that you don't see coming, and this had one that I have never seen before (not saying it hasn't been done elsewhere, but I've not seen it).

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Drama
Video . DVD & VHS . Substores . Regular Stores . DVD Bargains . By Price . From £4.97 . DVDs from £4.97
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . 15
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 2000 and later
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition

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