"Proof of Life" Rated R
***.5/*****
Proof of Life starring the dynamic Russell Crowe, like many other films this year (Vertical Limit) start off with a bang, but don't live up to its thrilling opening. The only part that's better than the beginning is the even more exciting ending.
Russell Crowe stars as Terry Thorne the K and R (Kidnap and Ransom) agent assigned to help Meg Ryan's Alice Bowman get back her kidnapped husband (Peter Bowman played by the under rated David Morse). Peter is building a dam in the fictional South American Country of Tecala. Although he is not working for them, this dam is an opportunity for a major oil company to use it as an oil refinery witch has upset a local group of terrorist, who hold Peter for hostage. Terry soon begins contacting the terrorists and trying to negotiate a ransom amount. The title Proof of Life refers to the proof Alice and Terry demand half way into the film to determine if Peter is indeed alive. Near the final half hour of the film, Terry's buddy and helped on this case Dino (David Caruso) gets the idea to forget about the ransom and just use force to get him out. This is where the film starts to pick. It's just a shame it took so long to do so.
As you may have guessed, the leads are very well played, and it is easy to see their emotions. The photography is truly striking, however it is never more prominent than in the very lengthy, but visually pleasing end credits. However, the main problem, as I have said before, is that it takes much to long to pick up, but when it does pick up, it does it right.
