Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War.’ Photo Courtesy of Rolling Stones.
British actors Maxine Peake and Jason Isaacs fight against injustice in the new film “Words of War,” which premiered in theaters on Friday, May 2nd via Rolling Pictures.
Aside from Peake and Isaacs, the movie stars Academy Award nominee Ciarán Hinds, Ian Hart, Ellie Bamber, Harry Lawtey, Naomi Battrick, and Ben Miles.
“Words of War” is from two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn (who serves as an executive producer), and BAFTA-nominated and Emmy award-winning director James Strong, who directed from a screenplay by Eric Poppen.
Journalist Anna Politkovskaya’s (Maxine Peake) brave crusade, fighting to be an independent voice of truth for the Russian people, puts her own life in jeopardy.
Anna’s voice was silenced but her legacy lives on. Anna’s story serves as a reminder of the dangers that journalists face and the importance of protecting their right to report the news without fear of death or reprisal.
Maxine Peake is sublime as Anna Politkovskaya as she delivers the crowning performance of her career thus far (the viewers won’t be able to take their eyes off her).
Peake’s acting work is reminiscent of Cate Blanchett in “Veronica Guerin” meets Angelina Jolie in “A Mighty Heart” with the atmospherics of Rachel Weisz in “The Constant Gardener.”
Jason Isaacs is a powerhouse as her husband Sasha. Peake’s caliber of acting is Oscar-worthy, and the same holds true for Jason Isaacs.
Ciarán Hinds is appealing as Anna’s editor Dmitry Muratov (who won the Nobel Peace Prize). Ellie Bamber is effervescent as investigative journalist Elena Milashina.
In fact, every person in this diverse cast offers something unique and interesting to the story, and they are all given their own characterizations.
The Verdict
Overall, “Words of War” is a compelling film from start to finish. It is bold, brave, stirring, heartfelt, and resonant. It will certainly move viewers on an emotional level since it wrestles morality and one’s values and principles to seek justice.
Strong performances led by Maxine Peake and Jason Isaacs give this movie its beating heart.
James Strong deserves to be commended for his vision in bringing this unflinching and angry story to life (as well as Eric Poppen’s screenplay, which is rich in character development).
“Words of War” will certainly spark conversations among viewers, especially since its subject matter is timely and relevant, as it scrutinizes the role of media/press in today’s political climate.
Most importantly, they are also able to tell the story of Anna Politkovskaya to a younger generation of audience members.
Hopefully, this is a harbinger of more high-quality films to come from Rolling Pictures. “Words of War” is highly recommended, and it garners an A rating.
Content shared from www.digitaljournal.com.