A Private War Review
Synopsis: In a world where journalism is under attack, Marie Colvin (Rosamund Pike) is one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless, while constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado. After being hit by a grenade in Sri Lanka, she wears a distinctive eye patch and is still as comfortable sipping martinis with London’s elite as she is confronting dictators. Colvin sacrifices loving relationships, and over time, her personal life starts to unravel as the trauma she’s witnessed takes its toll. Yet, her mission to show the true cost of war leads her — along with renowned war photographer Paul Conroy (Jamie Dornan) — to embark on the most dangerous assignment of their lives in the besieged Syrian city of Homs
Rating: Rated R for disturbing violent images, language throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity
Run Time: 1 Hr 50 Min.
Director: Matthew Heineman
Blu-ray Extras: Becoming Marie Colvin, Requiem for A Private War, Women in the World Summit Q&A.
Nudity Factor: This film does have a couple nude scenes. One is just the silhouette of naked people. The other two has Rosemary Pike nude. One is a shower scene. The other one is much more graphic and has Rosemary Pike fully naked in a fairly extended scene.
Of Note: Features two Oscar nominees: Pike, Tucci.
Recommendations:
I have been on a documentary kick of late and because I watched one not too long ago, this came up as similar. So I thought I would give it a try. The story this is based on is a bit of a downward spiral. Marie Colvin is a war reporter. But not just any war reporter. She is known for bringing the human side of war. The impacts it has on those in the countries that are devastated by war. The crimes against humanity or just the lack of caring for fellow humans, mostly because of unjustifiable reasoning. The ability to tell this side of the story left her bearing the burden of the story, but also feeling that if she didn’t bring that side of the story to the public, it would be lost. Almost like she couldn’t escape the horrors of the wars herself and always found herself on the front lines of the next war.
The story is dark, and you watch this downward spiral unfold on the screen in front of you. You can tell that Marie is not heading in a direction that will have a good result. If you look up Marie Colvin you will know this before watching this. I can’t give you advice on if you want to know how this ends before watching the movie, but for me, it helped me. Rosamund Pike is amazing in this film. It was great to see the entire burden of this movie falling on her shoulders, and that she really made Marie Colvin come to life. I also liked Jamie Dornan as Paul Conroy who is equally up to the challenge.
Overall, this film is maybe rated lower by me than many others. I think for me, it was the struggle of balance in this film. It has some light moments, but most of the film is just full of darkness. I get that the subject of war does not necessarily have a lighter side. It is dark, it is dreary, and in some ways adding in some sunshine would diminish the horrors being covered. That is the reality. It is a testament to the way this film is written that you feel like you are going down the same spiral that Marie is. My other criticism is that people that would know the story of Marie have come out and said that many liberties were taken with how the story unfolds. It does not seem that you would have to do that, but I am not nor will I ever be and executive at a table demanding those types of things.