Proof of Life starts out with a bang - insert Russell Crowe as Terry Thorne, a K&R specialist (Kidnap & Rescue), into Chechnya for a daring rescue. Add some guns, explosives, and the usual action fare, and the movie looks to have everything in place. But Proof of Life's downfall isn't in the action, the story, or the acting, but in the chemistry.

Peter Bowman (David Morse) and his wife Alice (Meg Ryan) are a seemingly-happily married couple in a fictional South American country. Peter is there building a dam to benefit the locals (albeit through a oil company's funding) and Alice still has yet to acclimate to her surroundings. On the way to work, we are immersed in yet another action sequence where local rebels, in need of a new infusion of cash, stage a kidnapping, taking what seem to be the richest (read: White) people from a staged roadblock on a remote mountainside. Once it is uncovered that Peter is working for an oil company, the kidnappers could care less that he is building a dam for the betterment of their country.

Enter Terry Thorne - contracted by his company less than a week after returning from his daring Chechnya rescue, he must once again abandon his son and head off to South America to negotiate. Once there, he is the sole person in charge in the safe return of Peter Bowman to his wife Alice. Quite a sticky situation, especially considering Peter's oil company cancelled their contract with Terry's K&R firm months before. As Terry is recalled after initial negotiations, and very few sparks between him and Alice, upon learning in the insurance payment oversight, he has a dilemma - follow orders and return home, or stay in South America and help Alice get her husband back (or at least spend more time with Alice).

As you can plainly see, the whole plot is built around the chemistry between Terry and Alice, yet it never really shows up on screen. Off screen however, the romance between Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe was no big secret. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed this movie (albeit a little long at 2 1/4 hours), the romance just wasn't believable, and in the long run, brought the whole film down a level. Had it not been for the poor chemistry on film (no fault of the actors mind you), Proof of Life would have been a much better film. The acting is top-notch as Crowe and Ryan do their best to produce sparks, but the script and/or directing just wasn't up to par. David Morse (The Rock, Dancer in the Dark) is superb in his role as the hostage throughout his torments and punishements. He is quite possibly the brightest part of the whole film - he is able to command respect from his captors and the audience while at the same time, exhibiting his helplessness and headstrong attitude.

While Proof of Life suffers from little chemistry between Ryan and Crowe - the main focus of the movie - it is able to rebound with strong performances by the supporting cast along with great action sequences as bookends at the start and end of the film. Proof of Life is able to keep your attention from start to finish as the dialogue and action are well-paced. An adult film all the way, Proof of Life will not likely appeal to the teen or younger crowds, for the sole reason it probably doesn't have the "action" they crave, but for a more mature audience, Proof of Life is a riveting film with only one flaw.

Genres: Drama, Action, Romance, Suspense
Rated: R
Runtime: 135 minutes
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