It is not often in modern films that we get a good story with a metaphorical meaning. This is one reason why Proof of Life is such a unique film by today's standards. The 2000 film starring Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe is a thrilling drama about life. The plot is a simple kidnapping story. However, within the sub-text lies an entirely different meaning than what meets the eye.
While the film did not prove worthy in the box-office, it did succeed in many other ways. At first glance, I did not think that this film was any different from any other drama. I assumed that it was just full of action with only a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. After watching the film a second time, and taking note of the cast and crew comments about the film, I began to see it in a different light. If you look hard, you begin to see a powerful message about life. When broken into three sections, the film makes more sense.
The first part of the film serves as an introduction to the lives of the players involved. Meg Ryan plays the part of Alice Bowman, an unhappy corporate wife. She follows her husband around the world with no chance of continuing her own career. The lifestyle that she has chosen also keeps her from healing herself from serious life complications. As you can well imagine, she develops hard feelings towards her husband about where her life has taken her. You meet her husband, Peter (David Morse), during this section, but the majority of his role develops later in the film.
Russell Crowe plays Terry Thorne, the professional kidnapping negotiator. You see him in action on the job. He works for a living negotiating people's lives. He gets them home safely and he reaps the rewards. However, his life does fulfill him. Through his expressions and mannerisms, you get the distinct impression that he is not happy.
The twists and turns to the plot take place during the second part. The third part intermingles throughout the second section, and it carries through until the end. The lives of the characters enter a state of confusion. It all starts when a group of professional kidnappers randomly selects Peter. Just as Alice is considering what to do about her failing marriage, she finds out about it. The insurance carrier representing her husband's company automatically calls on Terry (Crowe) to begin business with the kidnappers. He shows up on her doorstep before she even realizes what is happening to her husband. Rather than dwell on the problems in her life surrounding her marriage, she takes on this new challenge with a renewed sense of purpose.
Go To Page: 1 2
