Leonardo di Caprio has proved his professionalism in mastering a character, though his character was obviously need to learn so much more about fall in the same hole. We’ve seen him being used in Iraq, again in Jordan…but still believed in his boss so much to deliver a new plot and share every single detail with him…seemingly a little bit contrast for what a smart field agent such him should do!
Russel Crowe was definetely being undersized, I couldn’t say the part pay him justice for the weight he had put on. I was expecting so much more from him…and though I knew to play a ‘fat, lazy, unselfish and always be there father of just an ordinary american family’ was not as easy as it looks (remember him as maximus!) I guess the part that really dissapoint me was not his act (well…the mimic and body language was quite a superb one…), but that of his character which has…well you could say none of heroes quality!
On the other hand…you will amazed by the strength brought to you by Mark Strong. He is calm, cold, yet has a familly man quality in his face. He talks…and you will listen. He plays so well that since his first meeting with di Caprio, you’ll have this urge to obey and trust him, believed that he is the hero somehow. Yes, Mark Strong plays equally well with di Caprio, and give his character a depth of personality.
I like the way Ridley Scott put Strong’s character in the storyline, contradict it with Crowe’s in almost every aspects of their life. The comparisons could be summarized as wealth versus rich, man of his word versus man of his food, and man of virtue versus man of bureaucracy. You surely can tell which one is which, can’t you?
Emphasize the difference between east mind ( loyalty and honor likewise japanese ninja or chinese brotherhood ) and west mind ( technology…technology…technology…), even though they work in a very same field. Lies seemed to be all over the body…but wait…maybe all over the body of CIA, but not in Jordanian’ part though. The message was quite clear; Don;t lie to me…said the boss, and seemed his men understand it well!
Again…for all the suspense and superb act, it is so worth to watch. Becarefull guys…your lady might simply fall in love to this ‘Hani” person as I do ;)
nadin
