Inspired by the Judith Miller ordeal where she outed CIA agent Valerie Plame, writer/director Rob Lurie crafts a tense political thriller that argues the pros and cons of the freedom of the press versus national security. How far would you go to defend a principle?
Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale, SNOW ANGELS) is a reporter for the fictional Capitol Sun-Times. At her son's soccer game she goes up to another soccer mom, named Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga, THE DEPARTED), a woman she only knows as the mom of another student. She tells Erica that in the morning she will be publishing an article that reveals that she is a CIA agent and that the article will be very embarrassing to the current administration. Van Doren is certainly not pleased.
Soon a special prosecutor named Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon, CRASH) is assigned to investigate who leaked the name of Van Doren, which is a treasonable offence. Armstrong is called in front of a grand jury and refuses to reveal her sources and is found in contempt of court. Her newspaper hires high powered lawyer Alan Burnside (Alan Alda, THE AVIATOR), who seems more worried about his expensive suit than whether Armstrong will actually be imprisoned. He underestimated the determination of Dubois and within no time Van Doren is in jail.
As the drama progresses, both Armstrong and Van Doren's lives will be turned upside down. Erica's husband Oscar (Jamey Sheridan, THE STAND) leaves her and Armstrong's husband Ray (David Schwimmer, TV's FRIENDS) wonders how she can put her journalistic principles before her family. The CIA begins to investigate Van Doren, fearing she may be the leak herself. She's dogged by reporters at every turn. Armstrong languishes in prison and whenever she thinks she might have a way out, Dubois is right there to lasso her with legality again.
Armstrong's editor Bonnie Benjamin (Angela Bassett, WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?) supports her reporter's stance, but the paper's lawyer Avril Aaronson (Noah Wyle, TV's E.R.) only sees how much this stance is costing. The longer she is imprisoned, Armstrong questions whether it was worth writing the story, but from her point of view what's done is done and what's right is right.
Beckinsale gives one of her best performances. She is much more than a pretty face. It's a testament to the character she was given and her skills as an actress that her time in prison feels authentic. She's a reporter in prison from day one, not a hardened criminal like those she's imprisoned with. Her fear is understandable and compelling. Farmiga gives yet another amazing performance. She crafts Van Doren as a no-nonsense, intelligent woman who shows why she has moved up the ranks at the CIA.
Lurie is not new to political stories where his characters take hard stances on principles. In THE CONTENDER, his female vice presidential candidate refused to answer questions about her personal life that would never be asked of a man. Armstrong understands that whether revealing Van Doren's identity was right or wrong, the issue now is protecting sources so that journalists can be trusted and can get important scoops.
Lurie builds tension wonderfully throughout. As Armstrong's circumstances get worse, the viewer sometimes sways on whether it's worth it. In the film, the case goes all the way to the Supreme Court, and Burnside's speech brings us right back on Armstrong's side. It's so good it would sway the real Court I believe. In a day when the nature of journalism is changing daily, this film underlines, italicizes and bolds the reason why a free, independent press is so vital to democracy. The responsibility of being a journalist has rarely been more intriguingly portrayed on the screen.
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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
