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"A MIGHTY HEART" (2007) (Angelina Jolie, Irrfan Khan) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Moderate Extreme Moderate Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor None None None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Heavy Extreme Heavy Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: A pregnant wife worries about her journalist husband after he's kidnapped by terrorists who threaten to kill him. PLOT: It's January 23, 2002, and Wall Street Journal South Asia bureau chief Daniel Pearl (DAN FUTTERMAN) is in Karachi, Pakistan following a lead on his story about Richard Reid, the infamous shoe bomber. When he doesn't return that night, his pregnant wife Mariane (ANGELINA JOLIE) is alarmed, as is Asra Nomani (ARCHIE PANJABI), a family friend and WSJ colleague. With it apparent that something has gone terribly wrong, various authorities arrive upon the scene. Among them is Randall Bennett (WILL PATTON) of the Diplomatic Security Service, an American who approves of the way the Pakistani counter-terrorism unit -- led by a man known as the Captain (IRRFAN KHAN) -- investigates the incident and interrogates possible suspects, including Omar Saeed Sheikh, a.k.a. Bashir (ALY KHAN). With the days and then weeks passing by, Mariane tries to retain her composure and belief that all will turn out well, as various WSJ colleagues stand vigil with her and Asra, and the likes of Randall and especially the Captain do what they can to find Daniel and hopefully bring him home alive. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens might be interested, as might someone who's a fan of anyone in the cast, but younger kids will likely give it a pass. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: ANGELINA JOLIE plays a pregnant wife who worries but remains resilient about her husband's apparent kidnapping. She uses strong profanity under duress. DAN FUTTERMAN plays her kidnapped husband, seen in various flashbacks, a loving husband, and dedicated journalist. ARCHIE PANJABI plays a family friend and colleague of Daniel's at the Journal who stands vigil with Mariane, worried, but hoping that all will turn out well. IRRFAN KHAN plays the head of the Pakistani counter-terrorism unit that does what it can (including torturing suspects) to find and bring Daniel home alive, not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because he fears of what such terrorist activities will do to his country's reputation. He smokes quite a bit. WILL PATTON plays an American from the Diplomatic Security Service who offers his aid and likes the often brutal but efficient way that the Captain and his men do their work. ALY KHAN plays one of the potential terrorists involved in Daniel's kidnapping. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 17 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. There's a brief and partially seen sexual encounter between a husband and wife (nothing explicit), while some shirtless men are seen. Violence includes a brief gun battle, some brief war footage, some struggling and other contact, and people viewing an execution (we don't see the footage, but can tell it's bad from their reaction). Some of those scenes and other moments (including the view of a dead and somewhat bloody body) may be unsettling for some viewers, while various bad attitudes are present, as is tense family material (worry and grief). Thematic elements are present, as is some drinking, while one character smokes quite a bit. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, at several points in the film, there are bright and rapid flashes from paparazzi cameras. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there is a great deal of handheld camerawork throughout the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Various people have wine with dinner. People have wine with dinner. Miscellaneous people have wine. We see a flashback to Daniel and Mariane's wedding where he drinks wine from a glass before doing the ritual of breaking it. BLOOD/GORE There's a call that Daniel's body has been found, so various people go to the morgue to check. We briefly see the dead and somewhat bloody body, with Randall having the mouth opened to check for something (and the visible braces on the teeth prove it's not Daniel). A captured suspect has a little bit of blood on his cheek. About Mariane's pregnancy, but not within her earshot, a friend reads from a pregnancy guide about not holding in one's urine. We see a little bit of blood on the head of Mariane's newborn when he's born. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Those responsible for kidnapping and killing obviously have bad attitudes. One Arab man states that the Jews were behind the attacks of 9/11. Mariane lies to her in-laws about anyone knowing that Daniel is Jewish (she does that to try to protect them from worrying). Being from India, Asra is accused of being a spy in Pakistan. Captain smacks a night guard when the latter offers resistance to the official's need to see records. Randall likes the way they do business in Pakistan (meaning torturing suspects). Not long after her husband's death, a reporter asks a woman if she's watched the tape of his execution. FRIGHTENING SCENES For those who know how this true-life story ends, the way in which it plays out could make it even more unsettling and/or suspenseful than for those who aren't familiar with it. We see a photo of Daniel shackled, and then two more showing a handgun aimed at his head, with one of those showing a hand holding his hair as well. There's a report that there's now a 24-hour deadline before Daniel will be killed. There's a call that Daniel's body has been found, so various people go to the morgue to check. We briefly see the dead and somewhat bloody body, with Randall having the mouth opened to check for something (and the visible braces on the teeth prove it's not Daniel). Officials storm a building and arrest a suspect at gunpoint, but when they leave they're fired upon, thus resulting in a brief gun battle where many shots are fired at night, but it doesn't appear that anyone is hit. There's notice of a new, 24-hour deadline before Daniel is executed. Officials receive a videotape that shows a man being executed. While we don't see the footage, their collective facial reaction suggests it's horrific (we later hear that the person was beheaded and then cut into ten pieces). We start to see the beginning of an animal sacrifice as a knife is held close to a farm animal's neck, but we don't hear or see anything after that. We see Mariane in pain during labor. GUNS/WEAPONS We see jets bombing buildings, some artillery firing, and some bodies on the ground. Various guards, police and others carry various types of guns (rifles, machine guns, handguns). We see a photo of Daniel shackled, and then two more showing a handgun aimed at his head, with one of those showing a hand holding his hair as well. Officials storm a building and arrest a suspect at gunpoint, but when they leave they're fired upon, thus resulting in a brief gun battle where many shots are fired at night, but it doesn't appear that anyone is hit. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "The f*cking name," "What the f*ck is everybody doing?" "He says f*ck you to them," "What are you f*cking talking about?" "F*cking mob," "Bullsh*t," "You bastard" and "Screw" (nonsexual). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 17 "f" words, 6 "s" words, 2 uses of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes," "Jesus Christ" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY Mariane shows some cleavage. We see Mariane caressing her pregnant belly in a bubble bath, but no other nudity is seen. There's some struggling with a man's cousin who's shirtless. We see a shirtless suspect, strung up by his hands, as he's being interrogated (he cries from the pain and/or emotional distress). We see a brief and partial flashback of Mariane and Daniel having sex (him on top, hands on a back, but no explicit nudity). SMOKING Captain smokes at least 8 times, while several miscellaneous characters smoke. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Mariane becomes progressively more worried about her missing husband (this occurs throughout the film). A woman is told that her husband has been executed, resulting in her wailing and screaming, followed by much grief. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy and/or any artistic license taken with the true story. The dangers that journalists often face in reporting stories and following leads. There's brief talk about the terrorist attacks of 9/11, as well as that of shoe bomber Richard Reid. One Arab man states that the Jews were behind the attacks of 9/11. Being from India, Asra is accused of being a spy in Pakistan. Randall likes the way they do business in Pakistan (meaning torturing suspects). Captain being worried about what his incident will do for Pakistan's global reputation. The comment that misery leads some people to become terrorists. Mariane saying she has not been terrorized by the terrorists' actions, and that the others shouldn't be either. VIOLENCE We see jets bombing buildings, some artillery firing, and some bodies on the ground. We see a photo of Daniel shackled, and then two more showing a handgun aimed at his head, with one of those showing a hand holding his hair as well. Officials briefly struggle with one man while arresting him. There's some struggling with a man's cousin who's shirtless. Captain smacks a night guard when the latter offers resistance to the official's need to see records. Officials storm a building and arrest a suspect at gunpoint, but when they leave they're fired upon, thus resulting in a brief gun battle where many shots are fired at night, but it doesn't appear that anyone is hit. We see a shirtless suspect, strung up by his hands, as he's being interrogated (he cries from the pain and/or emotional distress). There's another raid where an official grabs a person and has their hand across his face. Officials receive a videotape that shows a man being executed. While we don't see the footage, their collective facial reaction suggests it's horrific (we later hear that the person was beheaded and then cut into ten pieces). Reviewed May 22, 2007 / Posted June 22, 2007

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