Fair Game: Blu Ray Review
Fair Game
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Entertainment
Naomi Watts and Sean Penn reteam for a third time in this movie
based on a true story.
Watts stars as CIA agent Valerie Plame, who works at the highest
level within the government. The film begins in the aftermath of
September the 11th, with the CIA trying to substantiate claims over
who's behind the terror attacks and get the evidence needed to
support the US government's stance on a war with Iraq
But when Plame's husband, Joe Wilson (a fiery and defiant Sean
Penn) writes an opinion piece in the New York Times in 2003 that
the intelligence was manipulated to fit the White House, Plame's
cover is blown.
She's revealed to the world as a CIA agent, endangering operations
she has in play and lives she has promised to protect.
Not only does it endanger everything she's worked for, but the
personal cost on the duo and their young family is crippling.
Fair Game is intelligent film-making, blessed with strong central
performances.
While it takes a while to get going, the clever use of archival
news footage from that time within the film sees a taut political
drama start to unfold. The shaky camera work adds a grittiness (and
at times, it must be said, a distraction) but it's really Watts and
Penn who shine here. Penn, in particular, gets to vent his spleen
well in the character who rages against the injustice - but a more
quiet and restrained Watts brings the emotional intensity needed to
balance that.
The initial humour ends very quickly as the story changes (on
returning from a fact-finding mission to Niger, Wilson's character
says he "doesn't feel very 007 right now") and soon, the drama has
taken the front stage.
Engrossing and with an ending that certainly packs a powerful
emotional punch, Fair Game is an interesting and gripping look into
the old David and Goliath argument
Extras: Commentary from Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson give this a
level of credence it deserves
Rating: 7/10
