Directed by Kevin Macdonald. Updated 6:48 AM ET, Fri February 12, 2021 . Flavorless characters and a blizzard of flashbacks further repel our involvement in a drama whose timing, to say the least, is unfortunate. “The Mauritanian,” an STX Films release in theaters on Friday, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America “for violence including a sexual assault, and language.” Running time: 129 minutes. The Mauritanian REVIEW – A One-Note Drama. ___ MPAA definition of R: Restricted. The Mauritanian Review: A Harrowing True Story of Torture & Injustice. Yet the film is also the story of attorneys who stood to uphold those hallowed principles as they were bent and broken in the name of combating terrorism. She’s more hindered than helped in this endeavor by a junior associate, Teri Duncan (Woodley), who’s written with a gullibility that borders on unprofessional. In theaters. "The Mauritanian" thus feels like an earnest but uninspired movie that only marginally advances the ball, assembling a stellar cast in the service of one detainee's terrible ordeal, while its marquee stars largely take a back seat to Tahar Rahim in the central role. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch, adopting a good ol' Southern accent), who had lost a close friend in the Sept. 11 attacks. REVIEW: The Mauritanian (2021) dir. Movie Reviews. Some of The Mauritanian 's most fascinating footage is of the real Slahi during the end credits. Here’s an interview on the matter with scientific experts. Film, Film Review. MOVIE REVIEW “THE MAURITANIAN” Rated R. At AMC Boston Common and suburban theaters. Please consult the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before watching movies inside theaters. In perhaps the strongest wrinkle, that includes bonding with an unseen prisoner with whom he chats through a partition, despite uncertainty whether he can be trusted or represents another means of manipulating him. In parallel scenes, Slahi (an exceptional Tahar Rahim), arrested after the Sept. 11 attacks because of connections to Al Qaeda, endures the kind of abuse and deprivation that multiple movies and television shows have rendered all too familiar. The MauritanianRated R for torture, including sexual assault. The Mauritanian, review: Cumberbatch in Guantánamo is no-one’s idea of a thrill 3/5 Despite a standout performance from Tahar Rahim, this legal drama is a … I can’t say that I was ever excited about The Mauritanian, but I was intrigued. ‘The Mauritanian’ Review: A Tale of Truth-Seeking, Tahar RahimJodie and Foster in “The Mauritanian.”. Feb 12, 2021. It’s clear from even these brief glimpses that he is a uniquely engaging figure, and while Rahim does a brilliant job capturing much of that essence, the film as a whole never manages to live up to the character. Before making the decision to see it—or any other film—in a movie theater, please consider the health risks involved. 0. The Mauritanian is an incredibly powerful, poignant, enraging film, one that is uplifted by an incredibly magnetic lead performance by Tahar Rahim. The most enjoyable moments of the Guantánamo drama “The Mauritanian” occur during the end credits as the film’s real-life subject, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, listens to a Bob Dylan song. Get Our Newsletter! The Mauritanian, 2021. The Mauritanian REVIEW – A One-Note Drama. “We know that you’re innocent!” Teri blurts out during an interview with their client, undermining the movie’s emphasis on the universal right to due process. Updated 6:48 AM ET, Fri February 12, 2021. After weathering almost five years of rolling political scandals, American audiences could be less than eager to be reminded of one more. Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster star in this dogged, uninvolving drama based on the story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi. During a pivotal scene, Hollander and Couch meet to discuss the case, with the defense lawyer asking the fundamental question regarding his expressed certainty about her client's guilt: "What if you're wrong?". Directed by Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland"), from a script based on. That led to incarceration in Gitmo and subjection to what euphemistically came to be called "harsh interrogation techniques," otherwise known as torture. Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 The Mauritanian shows that horrors of 9/11 extended far and wide The Mauritanian shows that horrors of 9/11 extended far & wide. Movie Review. As noted, the government's actions in response to the Sept. 11 attacks have been widely debated and condemned, though "The Mauritanian" has the advantage of coming at them from a very specific angle and with enough distance to provide greater perspective. by Oscar Goff. Review by Brian Lowry, CNN. EDITOR’S NOTE: While the Hassle treasures the theatrical experience, your health and safety should always come first. Still it is worth a look, for what it does have, … The only reason to watch this film is for Tahar Rahim's performance, and that's about it. There have been many tales about the indomitable nature of the human spirit, and Rahim (who also stars in the upcoming Netflix series "The Serpent") earns his place on the roster of such roles, as Slahi speaks about how he has "trusted in American justice" -- an act of faith called into question by his experience. Running time: 2 hours 9 minutes. Feb 17, 2021, 3:21 pm Enlarge Trapped for the most part in featureless rooms, a stellar cast — including Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley — deliver dull speeches and sift through redacted documents, brows furrowed and lips compressed. The Mauritanian (now in theaters, though you’re more likely to catch it when it goes on-demand starting March 2nd) begins with both a return and an exit. ‘The Mauritanian’: Review By Tim Grierson, Senior US Critic 2021-01-12T17:00:00+00:00 Kevin Macdonald opens the doors to one of Camp Gitmo’s most trying cases Kevin MacDonald. The most harrowing material focuses on Slahi, snatched from his home when the movie begins, who somehow manages to maintain his sanity in the face of abuses designed to push him to the brink of losing it. THE MAURITANIAN is a well-made feature from a solid director, one that examines a case that still feels relevant today. Laughing delightedly and singing along, he’s the picture of contentment — not of someone who just spent more than 14 years in an infamous American prison. Under 17 requires parent or adult guardian. Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster in 'The Mauritanian.'. Two and a half stars out of four. Even a suspected terrorist is entitled to a defense, albeit under unusually intrusive conditions. The Mauritanian Theatrical Review By Allison Skornick-Rose, Feb 12, 2021 09:25 AM EST The star of this movie and the one who is a stand-out amongst these fine actors is … When you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed film through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on Slahi’s 2015 memoir, the story focuses mainly on the efforts of the defense lawyer Nancy Hollander (Foster) to obtain a hearing for Slahi and, hopefully, his release. Now playing in theaters; coming to VOD in March . JUST WATCHED 'The Mauritanian' looks into Guantanamo case. "The Mauritanian" is a bit of a throwback -- a solid, old-fashioned piece of entertainment, but not a great movie. The Mauritanian is an incredibly powerful, poignant, enraging film, one that is uplifted by an incredibly magnetic lead performance by Tahar Rahim. The Mauritanian is a flawed but compelling fact-based drama: Review By Leah Greenblatt February 11, 2021 at 02:38 PM EST The Mauritanian Review: Tahar Rahim Excels in Otherwise Tepid Political Drama Glenn Heath Jr. February 17, 2021 I’ve seen and reviewed many of Kevin Macdonald’s narrative feature films but can hardly remember any of them. The most enjoyable moments of the Guantánamo drama “The Mauritanian” occur during the end credits as the film’s real-life subject, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, listens to a Bob Dylan song. Movie Review – The Mauritanian (2021) February 8, 2021 by Robert Kojder. The Mauritanian Review: Is It Worth A Watch? The Mauritanian has a star studded cast with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jodie Foster — but does that make it worth a watch? ‘The Mauritanian’ Film Review: Jodie Foster Fights for Justice in Sluggish Gitmo Drama. “The Mauritanian” opens in November 2001 with the arrest of Salahi (Rahim) but then jumps to 2005, when Nancy Hollander (Foster) agrees to force the government to charge the man with something. Enter attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster), who takes up Slahi's cause, prosecuted by straight arrow Lt. The Mauritanian demonstrates the tenets of American corruption through a powerful example of American justice. (CNN)The sobering history of detentions at Guantanamo Bay has already been well documented, yielding a so-so movie last year in "The Report." But in its objective to present what being wrong meant for our view of "American justice" and democracy, that's one thing that the film gets very right. The Mauritanian takes a frustratingly bland approach to a real-life story that might have been inspirational in other hands, but Tahar Rahim's performance elevates the uneven material. The Mauritanian plays by the numbers, hitting courtroom conspiracy drama beats dutifully but without any urgency. By Alex Bentley. That extraordinary resilience will, if you’re lucky, be your most vivid takeaway from this dogged and punishing tale of torture and truth-seeking. The Mauritanian Review: Tahar Rahim Is Incredible In This Must-Watch Drama. This is the based-on-fact foundation of Kevin Macdonald’s searing and brutally raw “The Mauritanian,” a somewhat convoluted and … Note: The writer of this review watched The Mauritanian on a digital screener from home. Featuring a standout, awards-worthy performance by Tahir Rahim, Kevin Macdonald’s “The Mauritanian,” adapted from Mohamedou Ould Salahi’s memoir “Guantanamo Diary,” about his prolonged imprisonment at the titular base, is a staggering work of docudrama, that highlights the horrors that the American government inflicted on terrorist suspects post-9/11. Review: Decent political thriller 'The Mauritanian' stumbles in approach Courtesy of STX Films Kevin Macdonald’s well intentioned though occasionally flat post 9/11 legal thriller “The Mauritanian” has plenty of tricks up its sleeves. Rahim plays Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian whose contacts with Al-Qaeda resulted in his arrest in 2002, with the US government fingering him as a major recruiter for the terrorist group. The overall effect, however, is more dutiful than stirring. Facebook Twitter Flipboard Reddit Pinterest WhatsApp. By Mama's Geeky on January 19, 2021 Movies. A couple of films come to mind while watching “The Mauritanian.” The first is the endlessly rewatchable 1993 legal drama “A Few Good … Even with an impressive line-up on both sides of the camera, post-9/11 abuses remain difficult to dramatize. THE MAURITANIAN is a good film, a sincere film with a worthy subject, and one that features a powerful central performance by Tahar Rahim but one that never fully catches fire dramatically. 'The Mauritanian' looks into Guantanamo case.