FilmSnobReviews

Title: Beirut
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Brad Anderson
Starring: Jon Hamm, Jay Potter, Khalid Benchagra
Running Time: 1 hr 49 mins

What It Is: U.S. diplomat Mason Skiles (Jon Hamm) resides peacefully in Beirut with his wife and 13-year-old Karim, whom they treat as their own. Life soon turns awry when Skiles learns of Karim’s older brother Abu Rajal, an infamous terrorist. As Skiles tries to protect Karim from being taken away and interrogated, Abu arrives in time to take Karim, changing Skiles’ world forever. 10 years after the incident, Skiles receives news of a long lost best friend and CIA agent has been taken hostage in Beirut. In pursuit of the truth and his friend, Skiles must face the past he left behind to salvage a future for his friend and for himself as well.

What We Think: At first glance this film seems to reside in the “Suave Secret Agent Kills or Conquers Everything In His Way” category, sitting daintily behind the James Bond DVDs. One couldn’t be more wrong if they had this impression, and would be greeted with a rather intriguing take on what exactly a U.S. diplomat is capable under dire circumstances. Instead of the proverbial action-packed guns ablazing thriller we have been conditioned to experience, Beirut offers a more toned down espionage plot with just enough fascination to keep the audience enticed. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the sophistication and poise of Hamm’s performance; Hamm requires no special fighting scenes or high-speed chases to attract attention when his succinct tone and allure are enough. Hamm’s overall collectedness helps distract from the chaos in the city, a contrast that many films are not too familiar with. More often than not chaos and disorder in a story is met with an even more chaotic yet altruistic protagonist determined to save the day. This story, however, does no such thing and remains firm with the idea of the atypical hero that many viewers can relate to.

Our Grade: B, One can’t deny Jon Hamm’s debonair fashion entices even the most serious of movie watchers, and yet that seemed to be the only thing enticing me to keep watching the movie. I wouldn’t be caught dead buying tickets for such a film, but one look into Hamm’s eyes and I’m sold.