"Rendition" and "We Own the Night"

Rendition raises a debate that we have heard before...is it okay for us to torture those that are suspected of being terrorists based on our fears for our own national security? Honestly, I still don't have the answer to that question. I mean I do in my heart, just not in my gut. (That would be a "no" by the way). Well, Rendition really isn't going to answer that for you either. Jake Gyllenhaal isn't bad as an agent forced into his first "interrogation" by circumstance; and Reese Witherspoon pouts, cries and whimpers at all the right moments while of course showing "strength" the whole time. The excellent Peter Saarsgard is there and then he's not. And Meryl Streep plays cool calculation to perfection as she has done numerous times before. But in the end, not a whole lot is answered and while it's done well you can't exactly say, "at least it was fun getting there". B-

We Own the Night is also a thriller in nature, though more of a standard cop/drama kind. It is also a solid flick if never quite rising above that standard formula. Joaquin Phoenix reminds us of his versatility. Mark Wahlberg reminds us he can play a hardass. Robert Duvall reminds us that he can be quietly stoic. And of course Eva Mendes reminds us that she is hot. In between all of this is movie that is pretty well put together and moves at a steady pace despite delays in the timeline even though director James Gray has kind of been here before with Wahlberg in "The Yards". B