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Jan Wahl Movie Review: 'The Debt'

(KCBS) - KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl reviews 'The Debt,' an espionage thriller starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson, and Jessica Chastain.

THE DEBT (R)

There's tension, action, a solid story and it time travels. Set in two decades and several countries, The Debt is based on a 2007 Israeli film Ha-Hov. In this English language remake, we get a master class in acting, especially from Helen Mirren, who seems to haunt the film even if she is not in the scene. In 1990's Tel Aviv, a former secret agent is being celebrated for her mission, along with two male colleagues, of tracking down a notorious Nazi war criminal. The flashback to retell the story of what really happened are harrowing, bloody and powerful. Mirren's chilly presence is matched by a poignant, strong performance by Jessica Chastain as Mirren's younger self. While not a perfect thriller (romantic triangle and weird, somewhat unbelievable climax) director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Mrs. Brown) is a fine cinematic storyteller and definitely gives us unforgettable moments with brilliant actors.

 

 

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You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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