A Mighty Heart (DVD)

A Mighty Heart (2007) starring Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl (Futterman) is kidnapped while researching a story in Pakistan. His pregnant wife, Mariane (Jolie) must do what she can as she awaits news as to his fate. Since this is a true story, there is little tension over Daniel Pearl's ultimate fate. We know that he dies at the hands of the terrorists who abducted him. Is there any suspense in this story? Not much. The viewer only sees Daniel Pearl in brief flashbacks and one scene that takes place at the beginning of the movie. So how are we to learn to care about him? We cannot and we do not. This is Mariane Pearl's story, and it all has a slight whiff of melodrama which detracts from its impact. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, based on Mariane Pearl's memoir. Grade: B-