Proof of Life (R, 2000)

PROOF OF LIFE begins with its hero, Terry Thorne (Russell Crowe) sitting in a conference room giving a dry recital of his most recent success, the official report belied by scenes of what really happened, a shoot-out and perilous rescue by helicopter. Then we see Alice and Peter Bowman (Meg Ryan and David Morse), a loving but discontented couple living in South America, where Peter is overseeing construction of a dam. Alice is frustrated and unhappy, mourning a miscarriage. Peter is also frustrated, because none of his equipment has arrived, and he feels he can't make Alice happy. Then Peter is kidnapped, and Terry arrives to handle the negotiations -- until it turns out that Peter's company has not paid its insurance premiums, and Terry's firm orders him home. Terry leaves, but then returns, out of a sense of honor or because he is drawn to Alice, or both. The story shifts back and forth from Terry's attempts to get the kidnappers to agree to a ransom amount, to Peter, being held in the mountains. Then, Terry learns that he must go in commando-style to rescue Peter.

Another stunning performance from Russell Crowe holds together a movie that is otherwise not sure exactly what it wants to be. But if you want some Rambo action, there's plenty to be had here. Crowe is magnificent, a reluctant hero out of a Bogart movie, with Bogart's combination of ideals and complete lack of illusion. Offscreen, Ryan and Crowe had a romance that made headlines, but onscreen, there is not much beyond some meaningful glances and one brief conversation that Crowe makes heartbreaking.

Ryan does her best to make Alice smart and tough, but neither she nor Morse as Peter are able to make us care very deeply. Pamela Reed makes a welcome appearance as Peter's sister and David Caruso is excellent as Terry's friend and compatriot. Peter's scenes are intended to show his response to the deprivation and torture and his efforts to fight back or escape, but they are the weakest in the movie, failing to maintain tension or even sympathy.

Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Taylor Hackford
Cast: David Caruso, Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release: December 8, 2000
DVD release: June 19, 2001
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence, language and some drug material