latinfineart I just finished watching this film, for possibly the ninth time. Each and every time it entertains. Hollywood seems to have forgotten how to make action films like this one. A real story. Real characters and a story that is plausible. Imagine that? In this day and age, or cardboard characters, and cartoons that attempt to come to life, it is so refreshing. One of the last great films by Taylor Hackford, and a Gladiator type performance from Russell Crowe. Even David Caruso was good, though a little over the top.Crowe stars as a desensitized yet sympathetic kidnap-and-rescue specialist ("KNR" in the trade jargon) dispatched to an unnamed Central American country to negotiate for the return of an American hydroelectric engineer (David Morse). The man has been abducted by drug-running rebels looking to score a big ransom from his oil conglomerate employer. The country is very obviously Colombia. The ELT is stand in for the FARC. Meg Ryan plays Morse's distraught wife who grows to trust this brusque KNR man just as the oil company tries to weasel out of its responsibility, dismissing Crowe's high-rent expert and bringing in a crooked, inexperienced local yokel instead. The oil company execs are portrayed for exactly who they are. Weasels, and morally bankrupt, ethically challenged megalomaniacs. The government stooges are portrayed for exactly who they are. Men who care nothing for their people. It is all about politics, and as always, the people come last.But for the first time in his life (apparently) Crowe's conscience -- and Ryan's tenacity -- gets the better of him and he decides to secure Morse's return with or without company backing. Thus begins a lengthy game of who-will-blink-first negotiation that tries Ryan's nerves despite assurances that the threats, disquieting prisoner photos and outrageous demands are standard bargaining procedure. This begins to get a bit tiresome, but I went along for the ride. It may be somewhat genuine. Who knows?Deftly weaved into this home front story is the parallel plot which finds an increasingly scruffy Morse marched to a bemired hideout deep in the mountainous jungle for six inhumane months as a prisoner. David Morse is his usual self, with great acting, and as always, a tremendous presence. Inspired by a 1998 Vanity Fair article about real KNR operatives, "Proof" portrays an authentic sense of the danger inherent in this part of the world. The fear and anxiety of a kidnap victim's family comes through distinctly, as does the power of the kind of people who stare down kidnappers for a living.Crowe does a good job coloring in the mettle of his generically strong and silent type. Hackford's direction consistently rises above any script shortcomings and makes this film so watchable. In the wrong hands, "Proof" could have become a movie of the week or a B-grade action loser. While Hackford does stick to the Hollywood straight and narrow, he never allows the movie to become trite.This is an really great action film.

satch58 Apart from the character played by Meg Ryan the movie was quite good. Meg Ryan's character came across as shallow and ever so slightly spoiled---it was all about her. Her husband's sister was also a weak character.She seemed to be more concerned about the hostage's safety then his wife. Having said that, the story was a good one, and apparently based on a true event which happened in Colombia. The scenes of the captives during their ordeal were a little harrowing. I would not have chosen this movie to see at the cinema, but it provided a nice evening's entertainment in the comfort of our lounge on television. Russell Crowe played his part well, as did the actor playing the hostage. I did not like David Caruso in his part---he seems to have the same acting technique in everything he appears in---wooden, and sounds as if he is reading his lines.

kosmasp I am a big fan of Taylor Hackfords overall work. But I don't think this matches some of his other movies (unfortunately). One of my favorites of all time (actually my number one movie) is "Blood in Blood out" aka as Bound by Honor, which makes it sound less like a horror movie. Of course it is a drama, but I guess people might be confused by the title. This movie right here has a great cast (Russell Crowe starring), but lacks the emotion I got of some of his earlier work.It's unfortunate, but while not a bad movie, I don't think this matches what he has done before and the question could be if he lost his touch. I haven't seen any of his more recent films since then, but the success of Ray alone might be a disprove of that theory. So if you're a fan of his, do not be too harsh on this movie if you can. If you don't care about directors in general or this one in particular, do not expect too much from the movie

Rob-O-Cop I liked this movie, I liked the characters and the pacing and plot, but what's with the gratuitous use of cigarette placement in this film. it seemed crow-bared into the story for no effect. there was no point to its inclusion. Add to that we never see meg Ryan taking a puff, just awkwardly waving her cigarette around. I first say a stray puff of smoke and wondered what the hell it was then later figured out Meg was smoking (or not). Then we get Crow in on the act and the sister. It just rang hollow and confusing and put a corporate edge on an otherwise interesting story.Crow's character was cool and for the family breaking wife stealer he managed to pull in the real world with meg his character was certainly worth it.Meg looked cool too, pre lip implants.The military stuff was precise and focused and the hostage stuff disturbing. A flawed but good movie. I'm glad I watched it.