'Rendition' explores personal side of political drama

By: DAN BENNETT - Staff Writer | Wednesday, October 17, 2007 1:58 PM PDT ∞

Crossing lines is at the core of "Rendition," whether those lines are geographical, legal or moral.

The story deals with the policy of extraordinary rendition, wherein the government sends suspected terrorist suspects to secret prisons overseas for interrogation. The film doesn't so much deal with the politics and controversy surrounding the practice, though, as much as it does the personal effect on those involved.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a CIA analyst in North Africa appointed to watch over the torture and interrogation of a particular prisoner following a deadly terrorist bombing.

The Egyptian-born chemical engineer Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) has long lived in the U.S., but a few small clues point to him as a possible suspect. Anwar is whisked from his flight back home to the U.S. from South Africa and sent to a secret prison in North Africa, where he is interrogated under the watchful eye of the troubled CIA analyst.

The interrogation is run by a secret-police commander Abasi (Igal Naor) working with problems of his own, namely a daughter who has run off with an extremist. Back in the U.S., meanwhile, the suspect's wife, played by Reese Witherspoon, has begun a desperate campaign to find the whereabouts of her husband, seeking the help of an old college friend (Peter Sarsgaard) who is now the aide to a powerful senator (Alan Arkin). Blocking his path are the forceful methods of a CIA chief, played by Meryl Streep, determined to keep secret the goings-on.

The action moves back and forth between the disturbing interrogation sequences and the political maneuvering back home, touching also on the complex personal lives of those involved.

"Rendition" is a heavy, often troubling film, certainly raising pertinent questions and concerns, choosing not to offer definitive solutions to obviously complex problems. An overload of characters and situations means we can't fully connect with some of the things going on, and some of the plot developments read as too standard and familiar for the political-thriller genre.

Audiences seeking Bourne-style movie action won't find it here ---- "Rendition" is more concerned with ideas and characters than overt action. As a starting point for discussion and an introduction of the particular subject matter, though, the film enjoys some merit.

B-

"Rendition"

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Peter Sarsgaard

Director: Gavin Hood

Studio: New Line Cinema

Rated: R (for torture violence and language)

RT: 122 minutes