"Infidel" May Be the Last Movie I See in Theaters

 

by John Zenoni

Well, having read the recent news that Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Cinemas, might close all the UK and US theaters as soon as next week, I had to get in one more flick at the cinema. I ended up seeing a non-high profile film, at least it's one that I haven't heard a lot about, called “Infidel.” It felt great being back in the theater, even if I was only one of three people there, and this film did not leave me disappointed.

“Infidel” is a film about American journalist Doug Rawlings, a Christian blogger who's invited to Iran to discuss his religious beliefs on television. Needless to say, his comments don't sit well with some people and he's arrested and imprisoned by Iranian officials who accuse him of spying for the U.S. He is eventually charged with espionage and held captive for some time.

The film stars Jim Caviezel in the title role and he does a very good job. He definitely is believable as a man of passion about his beliefs.

His wife Liz, played by Claudia Karvan, is a State Department official and she tries to get the American government involved. However, she soon realizes that the American government will not get involved and decides she's going to go to the Middle East to try and get him back herself. This is really the best role in the film as Claudia Karvan is excellent as a wife desperate to get her husband released.

The rest of the cast is very impressive as well and the tension definitely keeps you captive, no pun intended, throughout the film.

I will say that there were a few moments where I thought, ‘No way would that happen’ or ‘Why would you do that?" -- so it's not a film without its faults.

The other thing is that after reading some reviews when I got home after watching the film, I discovered that there are quite a few positive and negative commentaries regarding the facts as the film is ‘inspired by true events.’

But I'm looking at the film from a thriller perspective and in that regard it definitely works. I definitely recommend this one. Hopefully, it will not be my last in a theater but if it is, I'm glad I picked one that isn't too bad.