Proof of Life

December 8, 2000

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A long drawn out plot, shootouts in the jungles of South America and romantic scenes between Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan can all be found in Proof of Life. The story begins with business executive named Peter Bowman (David Morse) being kidnapped by anti-government gorillas in South America. Peter’s wife Alice (Meg Ryan) receives a radio transmission informing her that her husband will be released in exchange for 6 million dollars. Alice realizes that even if she had the money she would never see her husband alive so she enlists the help of a professional negotiator named Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe). Four months of negotiating and the ransom is dropped from several million dollars to a mere 600 thousand. (I need someone like Terry to help me buy my next car. Maybe he will even drive it for me.) While Terry and Alice are working for the release of Peter, romantic feelings slowly begin to emerge. After hearing my wife over Russell Crowe, I asked her “If I was kidnapped, would you run off with Russell?” She said, “The question is, would he run off with me?” Suddenly, the gorillas stop negotiating with Terry and he decides to go to South Africa with a strike force to save Peters life. This last action scene is great but it should have taken place two hours earlier in the movie. The script is simplistic so that might explain the weak acting. Of course in my wife’s opinion, “There was too much story and not enough Russell.” I give this long adventure film – or whatever you want to call it – a C rating.

This movie has been given an R rating by the MPAA

Although I am blind, I can appreciate a good movie as well as sighted individuals.
I rely more on a good story line than special effects.