day age every news story involves discussions waterboarding images abu ghraib tales forced detentions guantanamo bay gavin hoods rendition uptotheminute timely movie ever likely come entertainment mills mainstream hollywood not stretch imagination perfect film neither merit caterwauling opprobrium received hands critics across ideological political spectrumbr br the term rendition refers ability cia arrest individuals suspects terrorist dealings whisk away secret foreign country interrogate torture indefinite period time without due process law anwar elibrahimi egyptian man living twenty years united states american wife young son new baby way seems unlikely candidate terrorist yet one day without warning explanation anwar seized taken undisclosed location subjected brutal torture admits involvement terrorist organization anwar claims know nothing aboutbr br on negative side rendition falters occasionally storytelling abilities often biting little chew terms plot character ostensible focal point douglas freeman rookie cia agent brought observe anwars interrogation hands egyptian officials problem that conceived writer kelley sane enacted jake gyllenhaal freeman seems much nave boy scout make plausible agent given screen time needs develop fully character know little beginning even less seems end goes motions learn precious little man within thus without strong center gravity hold together film occasionally feels coming apart seams story elements flying directions similar problem occurs anwars distraught wife played reese witherspoon woman never get know much apart see surface gyllenhaal witherspoon proved fine actors circumstances hemmed restrictive screenplay rarely lets go beyond single recurring note performancesbr br what makes rendition ultimately powerful film however extreme seriousness subject matter way two concurrently running plot lines elegantly dovetail one another movies closing stretches may make slightly contrived story perhaps might liked subject but hey hollywood all film pay deference mass audience expectations get green lighted let alone see light day completed projectbr br two supporting performances particularly compelling film omar metwally makes palpable terror man caught real life kafkaesque nightmare cannot awaken yigal naor makes surprisingly complex character chief interrogatortorturer meryl streep alan arkin peter sarsgaard also make marks smaller roles special mention also made warm richly hued cinematography dion beebebr br does movie oversimplify issues probably stack deck favor torture victim evil government forces definitely one wonders movie would played anwar really terrorist yet movie guts tread controversial ground afraid raise dicey questions risk disapproval political stances takes openly ponders issue nation hold fast hardwon principle civil liberties all face terrorism fear much courage take people good finally stand say enough enough even risk branded terroristappeasing unpatriotic power the movie also not way deny reality extreme islamic terrorismbr br thus reject rendition hand would allow perfect enemy good rendition may perfect good something importance say world live alone makes much worth seeing