Directed by:
Brad AndersonScreenplay:
Tony GilroyCinematography:
Björn CharpentierComposer:
John DebneyCast:
Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, Shea Whigham, Idir Chender, Larry Pine, Dean Norris, Mark Pellegrino, Jonny Coyne, Kate Fleetwood, Alon Aboutboul, Douglas Hodge (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
In 1972 Beirut, American diplomat Mason Skiles (Jon Hamm) hosts a cocktail party accompanied by his wife and Karim, the 13-year old Lebanese orphan whom they hope to adopt. The festivities are disrupted when Mason’s best friend, CIA Agent Cal Riley arrives with startling information about Karim. Seconds later, terrorists attack the party with tragic results. Ten years later, Mason, now an alcoholic working as a mediator for labor disputes in Boston, gets approached by a stranger in a bar, who hands him a passport, cash and a plane ticket along with an urgent invitation from mutual “friends” that he travel to Beirut. Reluctantly, Mason arrives in Beirut only to find that the formerly picturesque city on the sea has become a violence-ridden warzone. Mason soon discovers the real reason he’s been called back. CIA and Embassy officials Donald Gaines, Gary Ruzak and Ambassador Frank Whalen explain that terrorists have kidnapped a CIA agent. Mason’s mission: negotiate a swap for the release of terrorist leader Abu Rajal, believed to be imprisoned by Israeli secret police, in exchange for the American. Navigating the rubble-strewn city with the help of his Embassy-assigned handler, savvy “cultural attaché” Sandy Crowder, Mason secretly meets with the kidnappers and uncovers clues that help him unravel competing agendas advanced by Israeli military boss Roni Niv, American politicians, Palestinian Liberation Front minister Bashir and corrupt bureaucrats. Confronting ghosts from his past, Mason faces a formidable question: Who do you trust in a world where the truth emerges only when it’s convenient - or profitable? (Roadshow Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (3)
Since I watched two espionage dramas from Netflix production in a row, I had something to compare this with. Unlike The Angel, Beirut employs well-known actor stars – especially Rosamund Pike, but Jon Hamm is also good. But here the espionage is over and done with rather quickly and after that, nothing exciting happens that would knock you off your seat. And the ending doesn’t add much. Mildly interesting but forgettable.
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Gilroy’s classic that lacks sufficiently distinctive directing. Beirut in the 1980s was like a frying pan filled with hot oil and information was like a good cut of meat. A wreck of a political negotiator re-enters the game to recover a guy whose head is full of high-quality veal and who, coincidentally, killed the negotiator’s wife by mistake a few years prior… A classic Cold War clash of espionage agencies in the war-torn capital of Lebanon. Hamm is great – his role fits him like a glove.
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A subtle film capturing the challenging situation in Lebanon during the 70s and 80s. However, with experienced names behind it (directed by Brad Anderson, written by Tony Gilroy, and starring Jon Hamm), I knew right away that it wouldn’t turn out to be a misstep. And “surprisingly,” it didn’t. The only thing that slightly puzzled me was the political dialogue, which might initially confuse viewers unfamiliar with what was happening in Lebanon during that time. I had the same issue, but eventually, I managed to piece together a basic understanding. The craftsmanship of the film can be described as flawless; the depiction of the nearly hopeless situation was executed perfectly, and Gilroy ensured the script was tight, so there were no missteps in that aspect either. The scheming and various intrigues from all involved confirmed that working in these agencies is not for the faint of heart. The actors delivered their standard performances, and while Jon Hamm may not be considered a heavily utilized actor, wherever he appears, it’s worth watching! A quality film with an old-school feel. I’m giving it 78%.
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