Film Review: UNTHINKABLE (2010)

Director: Gregor Jordan
Running time: 94 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Drama
UK Release date: 13th September 2010 (DVD Premiere)

Watched on Sky+ Tuesday 8th March 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

For a film that, in most parts of the world, went straight to DVD, this is surprisingly good. It deals with a very tough subject and asks some very hard questions, but I found it quite enthralling. Topped off with some really great dialogue and some really good performances, I’m surprised it didn’t get a wider release. But more of my thoughts later, here’s a brief summary first (summary haters and those that don’t wish to know anything about the plot please extract some information from the prisoner while I write the next paragraph).

Henry Herald ‘H’ Humphries, known as ‘H’, is a black ops interrogator who is called in when a white American Muslim says he has planted three nuclear bombs in cities across the country. The man, Steven Arthur Younger, has been captured and ‘H’ has to work with FBI agent Helen Brody to extract the location of the bombs. The methods ‘H’ uses are brutal and Brody finds it hard to stomach. She tries to be the voice of reason, but finds it more than difficult when her superiors condone the methods being used. I really don’t want to say too much more, this one is best watched with as little information as possible.

First of all, hats off to the filmmakers, I found this a very intelligent film that raises questions about torture, brutality, the justification for terrorism, and many more. Very well made with some tremendous performances. In particular; Samuel L. Jackson as Henry Herald ‘H’ Humphries, Carrie-Anne Moss as Agent Helen Brody and it was nice to see Michael Sheen in a truly dramatic role that reminded me of what a fine actor he really is.

There is a sequence at the beginning of the film where ‘H’ and Brody meet before Younger is arrested that just seems superfluous to me. It doesn’t really add much to the story and only serves to establish that ‘H’ is very important to those in power and that his family is important to him. Not really necessary, but once we’re past that it is quite an enthralling and a very thought provoking film. I must warn though that there are some scenes of torture and violence that some people may find distasteful. If you can bare that then I can definitely recommend this one to you.

My score: 7.8/10

LINKS:
(RT = Rotten Tomatoes)
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0914863/
RT Page: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/unthinkable/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3696953113/