Fair Game

Doug Liman created some decent conversations and the chemistry between Naomi Watts and Sean Penn hasn’t lost any cinematic drive since 21 Grams. But where is the entertainment potential in addressing a marriage crisis against the background of complicated political happenings in the White House when even American audiences have already forgotten all about those events? Fair Game is an example of a viewer-unfriendly, bland and boring film. (01.05.2011)

The Green Zone of bureaucracy. After the jump tragedy, Liman has returned to effective direction that fully serves the story, with this one earning points especially in the moments when both spouses are under maximum pressure from everywhere. Watts and Penn are great. Nowadays, not many movies are made that are smart, resolutely commenting on recent political decisions. Thumbs up. (06.02.2011)

A film without priorities, where one topic walls off another, it does not let the exciting questions of the essence of democracy sound fully (it always eclectically beats them with another dull side path) and thus, to its detriment, instead of provocativeness, it slides to typical phrases about a non-existent alternative to the current (certainly problematic) system of government - the guilty are the powerful ones, and the citizen wins, because he always somehow invokes his rights. In fact, I wouldn't mind the conciliatory undertone if the film wasn't boring with its ever-changing perspective. Liman is not Greengrass, and Powell's entourage also gives a very tired and anemic impression. I don't have a problem with conversational thrillers, but this is just a parlor debate that quickly excuses a few of its provocative theses with some kind of industrious patriotism. In fact, it's a completely useless film that tries to criticize something it's trying to defend and preserve in the same breath. From this, it simply cannot but become gray with hints of interesting places. I almost suspect that the creators did it deliberately so that the subject wouldn't sound so controversial. (05.05.2011)

I wanted at least one uncompromising cold-blooded action silly film, but I didn't get it. Liman directs extremely economically, without unnecessary theatrical escapades and pseudo-cool shots. Fair Game is a fair story based on the truth that doesn't pretend to be more than it is. And it's basically an average story of false accusation, where we encounter quite fiery topics of the recent past and the fact that Liman cleverly plays with events of the past and kind of winks at White House members. A bit like Oliver Stone, hidden behind an action camera and minimalist music. Extraordinary, but not action-packed. Naomi Watts is captivating and Sean Penn is consistently good except for one scene. (13.02.2011)