A Private War 2019

     This film is based on the true story of war correspondent Marie Colvin and based on a Vanity Fair magazine article.  The setting begins ten years before Marie and Paul travel to Homs Syria. Marie is an utterly fearless reporter of inhumane conditions in other countries.  She gives voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless.  She stands up under gunfire and proclaims she is an unarmed journalist in Sir Lanka.  She suffers a serious injury to her left eye and afterwards she wears a black eye patch.  She travels with renowned war photographer Paul Conroy.  They embark together on their most dangerous assignment to tell the stories of the besieged Syrian city of Homs.

     Marie pushed her job to the limits by being embedded along with Paul among troops or insurgents instead of covering from the sidelines.  Marie had a troubled personal life and she could not escape PTSD.  She tries to drown her recurring memories with alcohol and she won’t listen if she is questioned about her drinking.  She also smokes like a chimney is almost never without a cigarette.  Did Marie have a death wish, could she not live without the rush of war and adventure?  This film doesn’t delve into her inner thoughts, just her convictions.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

     

110 min, Bio directed by Matthew Heineman with Rosamund Pike, Greg Wise, Alexandra Moen, Tom Hollander, Faye Marsay, Jesuthasan Antonythasan, Raman Srinivasan, Natasha Jayetileke, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Amanda Drew, Hilton McRae, Fady Elsayed, Tristan Tait, Corey Johnson, Jamie Dornan.

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 90% critic 64% audience, Roger Ebert 3 ½*, The Guardian 3* out of 5* Mark Kermode, Metacritic 75 out of 100 with 32 critics 7.2 out of 10 with 46 user scores, Empire Online 3* out of 5* Dan Jolin, Independent 3* out of 5* Geoffrey Macnab, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 106 reviews.

Special Note:  Martha Gellhorn has written a book about Marie Colvin titled The Face of War published in 1978.  Marie was born in New York City on January 12, 1956.  She wrote a book titled On the Front Line: The Collected Journalism of Marie Colvin published in 2013.  She worked for the British newspaper The Sunday Times starting from 1985.  She was married to Juan Carlos Gumucio from 1996 to 2001.  Married to Patrick Bishop from 1989 to 1995.