TIFF Movie Review: The Whistleblower (2010)
Great performance from Weisz, but the film is mediocre
Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Not too far into The Whistleblower I was ready to chalk it up as another "inspired by a true story" feature wallowing in the misfortune of others as one person faces hardship in the face of many to set things right. It's a familiar narrative that doesn't make a film of this nature anything special and, for the most part, The Whistleblower is merely mediocre. But Rachel Weisz delivers a starring turn that gets better and better as the film wears on providing one reason for praise.
The cast includes Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Monica Bellucci, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Ionut Grama and Benedict Cumberbatch. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"The Whistleblower" is a Samuel Goldwyn Films release, directed by Larysa Kondracki and is rated R for disturbing violent content including a brutal sexual assault, graphic nudity and language. The running time is 1 hour 40 minutes.
Kathy is forced to work through opposing factors such as the fact most of the guilty have diplomatic immunity and the girls that are being treated as "whores of war" are too afraid to speak out for reasons you will see in scenes that are disturbingly graphic. One scene in particular involving a lead pipe is so audibly disturbing, and goes on for so long, it's quite hard to take.
This is a film primarily focusing on the ill-treatment of women and the growing rate of human trafficking. As a result it takes a singular focus on one character in particular, Raya (Roxana Condurache), a Ukrainian sex slave, whom Kathy has made it her personal mission to save.
As the stakes get raised the movie improves, primarily based on Weisz's performance. Weisz is the only thing that keeps it going and in a scene late in the picture she really goes for it and lands a blow that elevates this film above its average origins, but she can't deliver an overall saving grace.
The supporting cast includes small performances by Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci and David Strathairn. All three adding very little to the film. Redgrave and Strathairn's performances are fairly typical with Redgrave playing the head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Strathairn playing an Internal Affairs officer. Bellucci plays the ignorant head of the repatriation program serving as something of a quasi-villain but ultimately only servicing the story by adding a rather unnecessary wrinkle to a plot that wasn't really needed.
None of this changes the fact Kondracki shows signs of being a top notch director with this serving as her feature debut. Her two lead characters are well established and she isn't shy when it comes to the tough stuff. Had this film been able to figure out exactly what it wanted to be it could have been great, but at the very least we get an introduction to a director that could be entertaining us over the next several years and yet another solid performance to add to Weisz's growing list.
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Can I ask a favor? (take your time). Can you send me an e-mail of how it ends? I got the ticket for free, but couldn't stay for the whole thing (had to go see Tall Dark Stranger). I left during the most difficult part to watch, content-wise.
I respectfully disagree. The movie is great, very powerful and very disturbing to watch in some scenes. Rachel Weisz proves hands down with her performance to be the best actress working today. If she does not at least get an Oscar Nomination for her superb performance, there is no justice.
I saw the movie a few days ago at the festival and honestly, it's the second best film at the festival ( Black Swan is the first). Rachel Weisz truly derlivers the best performace of the year here. She is the heart and soul of this movie.
I find it odd when people make claims like that; it's physically impossible to see more than 15% of the films at the festival
Why would you find that odd? It's called an opinion.
He probably finds it odd because you can't accurately say a film is the second best at the festival without having seen them all.
So is the festival starting to fill out the list of possible Oscar nominees for this year?
Early buzz for Kidman and Portman seems to suggest two of the Best Actress nomination slots may already be taken. Three if one counts Jennifer Lawrence for 'Winters Bone'. Could Weisz take another?
Anything else emerging?
I haven't seen "The Kids are All Right"; was Benning a leading or a supporting role? And is it likely for a slot?
How about Ruth Sheen for "Another Year"?
I'm not sure where Bening was falling when the film first came out – it might have been Best Actress. I seem to recall some thought that Moore could get in another BSA nom as well, but I don't know if that buzz is still there.
But then 'Kids' slightly stalled box-office wise when it tried to go wide. I'm not sure if that may have stalled the progress she was making buzz-wise or not.
I haven't seen 'Another Year' yet so I can't comment on Sheen though.
the movie is great, rachel gives an amazing performance, david strathairn and vanessa redgrave are great. This is a strong, tough, but GREAT film. it changes from all the boring summer stuff… (winter bone being the exception this summer)
Vanessa Redgrave plays the head of OHCHR (United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) in Bosnia and not UNHCR (which is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Just trying to get the facts right…
I didn't write UNHCR, but I did write UNHRC and also linked to it for further clarification. Thanks for the facts.
Sorry i misread your akronym but the United Nations Human Rights Council to which you refer is an intergovernmental sub-body of the General Assembly of the United Nations only composed of States. Vanessa Redgrave plays the head of OHCHR in Bosnia (www.ohchr.org) meaning she is a staff member of a specialized office belonging to the secretariat of the United Nations. I would know I work for OHCHR and I personally know the real Madeleine Rees (played by Vanessa).
This movie looks pretty interesting. I hope it gets a distributor.
Brad, to you, it may be just a film; but it's unfortunate to see that rather than reciting the story, you fail to notice how tragic and important is the subject itself…
saw it at the Whistler Film Fest. It's at least an A; nowhere near a C+
Saw it at Santa Barbara and agree it's nowhere near a C+. this had me glued to the chair. The director said it will be distributed in august. I think by the buzz in the room and afterward it should get good word of mouth. People, myself included, were extremely stirred.
Hi Greg,
Saw your comment on watching this movie. I haven't seen anything other than the trailer. Have read the review, looks extremely confronting. In your opinion, how well does this bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking? Do you consider this movie is a 'message' to those who hear it about this horrific issue, or is it just another movie to show explic scenes and vioence? I am considering showing this as a fundraiser to raise awareness of those caught up in Human Trafficking! I await your comments and thanks!