Beirut (2018)

I love this movie so much

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

As a movie this is a solid, dependable thriller with a really solid performance by Jon Hamm, as well as by a range of supporting players who turn in good, taunt performances. The one exception is Rosamund Pike whom is a great actor, but is ill-used. I suspect there were a number of scenes left on the editing floor.This movie will be controversial because of its depictions of Beirut, as well as lack of agency of the Lebanese people. These criticisms are valid, but at the same time it is very hard for Hollywood, let alone a Western director and writer to get the right nuance and tension of the period AND make a successful movie. To the critics, you have a point, but this is a thriller, not a documentary.If you are looking for a modern spy/espionage movie, this should be on your list. Plus I would love to see more Jon Hamm in these types of roles...well done.

Tony Gilroy wrote is psychological and character driven thriller and Brad Anderson directed - finding just the right amount of reality with devastating views of the life in Beirut during the ongoing civil war. Aided by a fine cast and superb cinematography by Björn Charpentier the film may be difficult to view because of the content of war, but it is important for al of s to see the ravages of terrorism and war that continues throughout the Middle East.The year is 1972. Mason Skiles (Jon Hamm) had a great life as a diplomat in Beirut. He and his wife, Nadia (Leila Bekhti), live in a beautiful house and have been mentoring a thirteen year-old Palestinian boy named Karim (Yoav Sadian). The opening scene is a party that the Stiles are hosting for other dignitaries. Karim is helping out serving the guests. When a CIA friend of Mason, Cal (Mark Pellegrino), comes to the party he is interested only in taking Karim in for questioning about an older brother Mason doesn't know about. What happens that night changes Mason's life forever, along several others at the party: terrorists attack, Nadia is killed, Mason is psychologically crushed and leave Beirut for the US where he divorces himself form diplomacy and becomes an alcoholic small time business negotiator. Jump forward to 1982 and because of an impending civil war the CIA operatives must send former U.S. diplomat Mason Skiles to negotiate for the life of his friend Cal he left behind. Skiles take the assignment reluctantly and discovers the now older Karim (Idir Chender) and his involvement in the war - and the important hostage he holds. The fine cast is rounded b=out by Rosamund Pike, Dean Norris, Colin Stinton, Shea Whigham, and many others. Raw, a bit difficult to follow at times, this film show not only the effects of war on the victims in the countries where the fighting occurs, but also on the soldiers and diplomats who are sent to 'aid' the situation. We need to see films such as this to keep aware of the horrors of war.

Due to this film not (repeat: NOT) obligatorily portraying Israel as some helpless sheep stuck in a sea of blood-thirsty Moslem wolves -- rather, as the arguable antagonist to Middle East ruckus (indeed, a view that anyone who has taken it upon themselves to learn a modicum unvetted history, would attest to) -- many aspiring and / or employed JIDF online propaganda trolls have infested the IMDb reviews section of this film, in order to try to down-vote it into oblivion. To be fair, I'm frankly surprised a film that paints the Israelis in such a, at best, dubious light -- as well as the Americans as being the unwitting (read: witless) peace-keepers, stuck between the former faction, its colonised foe(s) and their regional, hegemonic bent -- was given the green light (seeing as how pro-Israel Hollywood has infamously been... for obvious reasons).That being said, and politics aside, this film, albeit somewhat formulaic in narrative, is well-acted, well shot and has good pacing for its 100-plus-minute run-time. It stars Paul Hamm, who gives a polished performance. and the forever reliable Rosamund Pike -- a cast pairing that, alone, warrants this film's viewing. Beirut does not do anything particularly new, nor engender anything that stands out from the herd of 'Middle East malaise' themed -- that is, and as broached, aside from its depiction of the Israeli side, as it relates to the trilateral dispute that the film's subtext centres on.As such, and irrespective of its by-the-numbers approach, the film still feels refreshing -- in it breaking the 'hasbara' mould that has become all too commonplace in films dealing with this eristic subject matter. Beirut's undertones create a glimmer of hope for the mainstream worm to yet turn and, perhaps, sometime in the distant future, for the world to approach the, what has long become a veritable meme of "peace in the Middle East", from a standpoint rooted in reality; nay emotion, fake / vetted news and propaganda.

This is a solid rental. Excellent cast and writing. Don't believe the haters on this one. It's worth the time and is very well done from start to finish. Is it predictable - yes - especially if you watch as many movies as probably everyone that posts a review on here does. Is it entertaining - absolutely.