A remarkably solid political, social thriller featuring an excellent cast. I wasn’t sure if this movie would work, but was very happy with the end result.

Writing: The script for this film is rather impressive. It makes a timely political statement, very obviously, without feeling forced. It also does so without making choices about clear-cut good guys and bad guys. And it manages to play with storytelling structure in surprising and elegant ways.

Production: The production of this film is pretty much pitch perfect. Balancing the two worlds of the movie, that of the middle-eastern interrogation and the austere political/home of the USA, the movie has a nice sense of flow and contrast. I particularly love the choice of often times placing Meryl Streep’s character in a location as mundane as the kitchen at her home. Cinematography is simple but effective, which is a description that goes for most aspects of the film.

Cast: A fantastic cast brings this well written story to life. Like the material itself, the cast engages the movie in a way that doesn’t club you over the head with the message. They are clearly most interested in getting into the heads of their characters. Reese Witherspoon makes what is probably the most thankless role in the movie work very well. What really makes the character work is her empathetic performance which is remarkably free from hysterics. Jake Gyllenhaal, who never fails to impress, is perfectly up to the task of portraying the frank and naive agent as a someone who remains surprisingly grounded. Meryl Streep can pull of the “in-command” and cold type of character in her sleep, and does so yet again with apparent ease. Omar Metwally does a nice job as the unsuspecting victim of the story. The typically impressive Peter Sarsgaard is an excellent casting choice as the political aid who chases the story as far as he dares. And Alan Arkin is an amusingly easy choice as the senator he works for. Other roles are filled with fine character actors, such as Bob Gunton and J.K. Simmons.

Music: Two fairly new composers, Paul Hepker and Mark Kilian, had worked with director Gavin Hood on his previous film, Tsotsi. Their work here is understated but effective. Not worth writing home about, but certainly up to the task.