A PRIVATE WAR – A Review by John Strange
Matthew Heineman is an Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award winning filmmaker known for his excellent documentaries such as Cartel Land (2015) and Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare (2012). A Private War is his first foray into feature films.
A Private War is the story of journalist Marie Colvin (Rosamund Pike) who was one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. Writing for the British newspaper The Sunday Times from 1985 until her death, she was dedicated to getting to the truth about each conflict she investigated. Her dedication led her into some situations where no intelligent journalist should have ventured. Her stories and interviews were widely read and award winning but she lost a lot to get those columns, including one of her eyes.
Watching director Heineman's telling of this story was at times difficult to sit still through. His years directing documentaries show in his eye for detail and timing. Rosamund Pike does an amazing job portraying a woman whose dedication edged over the line into a sort of fanaticism. Her special brand of fanaticism gathered people into her orbit.
One of these was Paul Conroy (Jamie Dornan), a war correspondent/photographer who followed her into several deadly war zones in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe. He eventually nearly died with her in Sri Lanka. Her joy, what there was of it, seemed to come from her relationship with Tony Shaw (Stanley Tucci).
Rosamund Pike has given us a portrayal that screams academy award nomination. She is so amazing as Marie that she is absolutely frightening.
If you are a journalist or a journalism student, you must see this film. If you love the news, this is a side of the story you won't see on the evening news. It's not pretty but it is gripping and intense. I would love to set up a special screening of this film for my colleagues in the news business and especially those who are, like me, members of the Press Club of Dallas. This is a film that, like Mr. Heineman's previous films, needs to get a broad audience. I think it will.
Directed by: Matthew Heineman
Cast: Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Stanley Tucci, Tom Hollander
MPAA Rating: R (for disturbing violent images, language throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity)
Selig Rating: A+
Runtime: 106 Min.
Movie Site: https://www.aprivatewarfilm.com/
The Selig Rating Scale:
A – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
B – Good movie
C – OK movie
D – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
F – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn't paid for it.
