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Click Here For Our Interview with Irrfan Khan

A Mighty Heart

A Mighty Heart was the right movie at the wrong time. Released in late June, it unfortunately got lost in the summer blockbuster shuffle. What did people miss? For starters they missed a truly affecting piece of cinema. They also missed witnessing Angelina Jolie's best work to date.

As Mariane Pearl, the wife of journalist Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped in Pakistan and ultimately killed by terrorists in 2002, Jolie turns in an emotionally raw performance and is barely recognizable in both appearance and speech. She masters a flawless French accent and dons a wig to fully become the culturally diverse Mariane. Her transformation is so complete that she's no longer the jet-setting adoptive mother and Brad Pitt companion you see in the tabloids. She's a distraught wife and expectant mother trying to suppress her growing panic and anxiety with a level-headed calm. A woman who has lost her soulmate, but who finds the strength and the courage to keep moving forward.

While our entire country felt the tragedy of the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl (portrayed in the movie by Dan Futterman who bears a striking resemblance to the real Daniel), A Mighty Heart focuses on the personal nightmare of those directly involved"”the ups and downs, the false alarms, the dead-end leads, the crushed hopes. Based on Mariane Pearl's memoir of the same name (a book I highly recommend), the film captures the confusion of Mariane and those aiding in the search, and their ultimate realization that Daniel's kidnapping was not merely a random act. Much to their horror, they become aware of just how deep the conspiracy runs as they rush to put the pieces together.

What is perhaps most moving is that Mariane did not allow this senseless act of brutality break her spirit. She did not allow herself to be consumed by anger and the desire for revenge as most of us would. Instead, she has used her experience to push for peace and understanding between cultures.

Her admirable philosophy is discussed further in the DVD's special feature entitled "Journey of Passion: The Making of A Mighty Heart." The feature also explores the relationships of the characters. Most interesting is the unlikely bond formed between Mariane and Captain (Irrfan Khan), the honorable Pakistani police officer in charge of finding Daniel. Mariane puts her trust in him from the beginning and he becomes the shining example of a Muslim man who uses his faith for good.

Directed by Michael Winterbottom in a natural documentary-style, the events of A Mighty Heart feel as if they

are playing out in real-time right before our eyes. The featurette tells us that Winterbottom chose to shoot with handheld cameras, using long takes and creating a relaxed environment ripe for improvisation and feelings of true camaraderie.

Two other features include a Public Service Announcement from journalist Christiane Amanpour and an informative feature about the Committee to Protect Journalists (how and why it was formed and what its functions are).

The DVD contains just the right amount of features; any more would seem superfluous and take away from the film itself. Powerful and relevant in our world today, the film's message is what counts. A Mighty Heart is a heartbreaking piece of our history and an inspiring movie that everyone must see.

Movie Grade: A

DVD Features Grade: A-

Overall Grade: A