UNTHINKABLE

US, 2010, 97 minutes, Colour.
Samuel L. Jackson, Carrie- Anne Moss, Michael Sheen, Stephen Root, Martin Donovan, Gil Bellows, Brandon Routh, Holmes Osborne.
Directed by Gregor Jordan.

Unthinkable is a film about American official torture – done unofficially.

The film ties in with such films as Zero Dark Thirty with their pictures of water torture and interrogations to find out more about Osama bin Laden. In this scenario, filmed before The Search for Bin Laden, four bombs have been planted in big city centres in the United States. The man who has planted the bombs, a man called Steven Younger who has become a Muslim, tapes an interview, allows himself to be arrested, brings attention to his cause by being tortured.

Samuel L. Jackson gives a strange, tantalising, often alienating performance as the chief torturer (akin to his bizarre turn in Meeting Evil). Carrie-Anne? Moss is the tough FBI agent who finds Jackson’s methods too much. British actor Michael Sheen is very good as the man being tortured. A supporting cast of officials and agents include Stephen Root as the liaison with the torturer, Martin Donovan as the FBI boss.

The film was directed by Australian Gregor Jordan who directed Two Hands, Ned Kelly with Heath Ledger, Buffalo Soldiers.

1. The title, torture and the extent of torture? The unthinkable behaviour in this film? The film testing audience beliefs and sensibilities?

2. A film of interiors, Youssuf’s room, the FBI offices, homes, the venue for interrogation and torture? The military atmosphere? CIA, FBI? The torture itself? A claustrophobic film? The musical score?

3. The introduction, Youssuf and his talking on the videos, the several attempts? The effect, the response of officials? The news on television?

4. Brody, in her office, the maps, the lists, the photos of terrorists, her subordinates, their investigations, checking lists? Saunders and his being in charge, relying on Brody? The impact of the television news about Youssuf? The reactions, the file for H? The contact from Charles Thompson? The agents going to H's house, their being tied up, the new agents, the siege being called off?

5. H, with his family, the file, mystery, the agents at his house, his gun, his being taken, the interview with Brody? Charles Thompson calling it off? H's jobs, freelance, available, pursued, relentless?

6. The official authorities, the White House representatives, the military, the general in charge? CIA agents, the FBI, soldiers? The priority for the interrogations? The four bombs planted, time running out?

7. The irony of Youssuf being arrested, standing twenty-three minutes in the mall? His calculated plan, arrest, interviews, torture, being a martyr, defying the authorities? His faith and conversion? His change? His wife, the children, the wife trying to leave for Saudi Arabia, her being held, the children held? The cause, his taking the nuclear material, background in Pakistan?

8. The time limit, the agents being desperate, the means for ends? Ends justifying means? The need for information? Some lives for many lives to be saved? Where were the priorities? The role of torture, human dignity?

9. H, his background, his control, the contacts with Thompson? The encounter with Brody, her defying him, his choosing her because of her integrity? His independence, getting the military out? His personality, the initial brutal bashing of the soldier, ousting him? Brody’s reaction? The physical torture, shocking audiences? Chopping off the finger? Hanging Youssuf, the water torture, taser, mental torture, the hood? Bringing in the wife, desperation – and the unthinkable of cutting the wife’s throat? The introduction of the children, the pros and cons, tying them up? Where the line should be drawn? Fifty-three dead in the explosion, comparison for millions dying?

10. Youssuf as a character, defying the authorities, defying H? His suffering, going to sleep, being woken? The giving of the information about the bomb, the search for it, his photo, the pressing of the switch, fifty-three dying? His reaction to his wife coming in, the shock, the impact of her death? His resolution? Faltering? His children? H untying him? The struggle with the gun, asking for the care of his children, killing himself?

11. Brody and the effect of this experience, Saunders asking her to obey? Her reaction to the military, the general, the colonel and his reaction to what was going on? Brody and her refusal to agree to H, his continued pressure, explaining the situation, the need for information, the wife and the threat, her reaction to bringing the children in?

12. H as a person, the issues becoming about him rather than safety, the cruelty, the contrast with his own family, his wife visiting, the food, the picnic? His psychology, his physical torture, interactions with Youssuf? The killing of Youssuf’s wife, untying him, the children, Youssuf’s suicide – and his holding the key point of a fourth bomb?

13. The uncertain ending about the bombs? What if...? Audiences identifying with H, his cause, his methods, or not? Audiences identifying with Brody, her reactions, her behaviour? The toll on her?

14. A film in the post-9/11 mentality and war on terrorism?