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Collaborator Movie Review

Name: Collaborator Movie Review
Item: Collaborator
Rating: 3.5
Author: Giridharan M

Written by

Review for the film " Collaborator"

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes

Certificate: UA

Released: 18-06-2012

Genre: Drama

Similar To: Somewhere Beautiful, White Boy Rick, Write When You Get Work, Tupperware Unsealed

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CAST & CREW

Lupita Nyong O

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Producer:

Julien Favre

Luca Matrundola

Pascal Vaguelsy

Ted Hope

Cinematographer:

Julie Kirkwood

Editor:

Karen Porter

Composer:

Manels Favre

Movie Actor:

Eileen Ryan

Olivia Williams

Others:

Lupita Nyong O

Martin Donovan

Lupita Nyong O

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The story is about a playwright who has been panned by critics for his recent failings. Exhausted by the recent criticism, he returns to his old childhood home and meets a man who is in a similar phase of life. The chemistry and interaction between these characters form the crust of this film.

Plot: The protagonist, Robert (played by actor Martin Donovan) was once a successful playwright, but now is only cannon fodder the critics. He is also going through a tumultuous personal life as he just had a failed marriage. In search of peace and rekindling his middle age fire, he visits his childhood home. After reaching his hometown, he tries to get back with his ex-Emma Stiles (mute Olivia Williams). But Robert finds himself attracting the attention of his old neighbor he had never spoken to, Gus ( David Morse David Morse is an American singer, actor, director >> Read More... ).

The two characters cannot be any more different: Robert is ex-playwright who is slightly timid, and Gus is an ex-con who is mentally feeble. The two guys bond with each other until one night Gus comes over to Robert’s house to take him hostage. Apparently, he has robbed a liquor store and killed the clerk and now the SWAT team are on his tail. What ensues is extraordinary hostage crisis with a peculiar end.

Analysis: This is a refreshingly new take on a hostage crisis. Usually, the hostage crisis is likened with negotiations and violence. In this particular movie the captor and his captive are seen bonding over some beers engaging in some healthy debates explaining their point of view and in a way sharing their misery. What’s interesting is that even though Gus has a gun, Robert is never threatened by it. Martin Donavan is the actor, director, and writer for this movie and he has done a decent job in all of them. The ending looks a bit rushed, but considering that this was Donovan’s directorial debut, he has done a splendid job.

Star Performances: Even though Martin Donovan and Oliva Williams have done justice to their role. The performance put in by David Morse portraying Gus takes the cake, he has played the role of a mentally unstable ex-con supremely. The exchanges between Martin and David during the hostage crisis are the highlight of this movie.

What’s there?

• An unusually different take on the hostage crisis.

• The chemistry between Robert and Gus.

• A strong performance by Olivia Williams.

What’s not there?

• A satisfactory end to the hostage crisis seemed rushed.

Verdict: The Collaborator is in no ways a perfect movie and has its flaws, but it shows how two human beings can bond over their respective misery which is refreshingly new. This film should interest you if you are a fan of the hostage crisis genre and are looking for something new.

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