“Unthinkable” Review

This superb movie really hooks viewers from the very first scene and doesn’t let go until the fade to black.  It is all done on a very modest budget — managing to excite us with brilliant writing and intense performances throughout.  Considering that this film hardly saw a theatrical release, it is quite easily one of the best surprises of 2010.

Michael Sheen plays an American citizen who has converted to the Islamic faith and now threatens to commit acts of terrorism on the United States.  He has placed three nukes somewhere in the country and then turns himself in for interrogation.  Carrie-Anne Moss is an FBI investigator who is called in to help find the explosive devices.  Sam Jackson is brought in to extract information from the prisoner using whatever means are necessary.  The dynamic between the three is electric and it fuels the majority of the running time.

I loved many aspects of this film.  It is morally ambiguous.  It is relevant and current to the world we live in.  It is very difficult to determine what is going to happen next.  It is skillful and intelligent.  “Unthinkable” is the very best film that it could have been, given the subject matter.  I highly recommend seeking this movie out on DVD.