Proof of Life

Where did the makers of Proof of Life go wrong? Right about the moment the casting director proclaimed, “We’ve signed Meg Ryan!” The biggest shame is that Proof of Life is actually a decent movie, but most of its dramatic scenes are ruined by the fact that Ryan comes across as a petulant, bratty schoolgirl rather than a distraught woman fearing for her husband’s life. Couple her performance with the film’s cartoon Texas oil baron villains and a plot that relies too much on coincidence, and it all could have been a lost cause. However, Russell Crowe kicks ass like no other and almost single-handedly saves the movie. We say “almost” because he gets a surprising lift from none other than David Caruso—this one-time punchline of an actor is excellent in the role of Crowe’s best mate. We only wish there were more of him. In fact, we wish the whole movie had been about Crowe’s and Caruso’s characters. (Hey, Hollywood, how’s that for a buddy-cop pairing?) Just when you’re about to throw in the towel, Crowe slathers on the warpaint, loads up on guns, and makes the last half of Proof of Life worth the wait. Unleash hell, indeed.