Proof of Life (2000): Dir: Taylor Hackford / Cast: Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan, David Morse, Pamela Reed, David Caruso: Misguided drama about the need for evidence for Meg Ryan's husband has been taken hostage by guerillas in South America. Russell Crowe plays a hostage negotiator and the film plays best when it details the operation. Unfortunately the marketing tool regards the real life affair between the two, which is marketing at its lowest thus giving the film an extremely low appeal. Insightful directing by Taylor Hackford who previously made a much more appealing and compelling film called Dolores Claiborne. This film hardly comes close to that film's haunting themes although certainly it had the potential. The ending rises above the standard action clichés but doesn't save the film. While Crowe steals the film with his skill and knowledge, Ryan is basically there to hint sexual innuendo. This greatly hinders the film, and their real life relationship doesn't exactly help the film either. Thankfully Crowe takes charge in an exciting climax that pays off better than anything else in the film. David Morse does well as her husband although with all the hinted innuendo I was beginning to wish that they nabbed Ryan instead. Unfortunate failure due to its means of using Ryan as a tool for manipulation when in reality she was basically playing the part of a tool. Score: 5 / 10

Russell Crowe would of course come to be better known elsewhere (filmicly) in this year, but what of his other release in 2000? Proof of Life is a blender, a picture that is in part thriller, part romance, part drama and part observation on a very real life problem - that of kidnapping for ransom. So many genres to tackle means that invariably Taylor Hackford's film feels over stuffed, pushing the running time to two hours and fifteen minutes, it is this that hurts it. A shame because if trimmed of the pointless filler and drawn out sequences then there is a very efficient (ok, maybe routine is a better word here) and well acted piece on show. The drama and tension (sexual and perilous threat) is all building towards the action packed finale, which, while well mounted, doesn't seem an adequate pay off for the number of extended chatty scenes we have had to tolerate to get there. Nice tip of the hat to a classic at the end, though. 6/10

This is one of those movies that simply...does not work. The three principle actors lack any intensity in what is a life and death situation. Russell Crowe tries hard to be cooler than cool...he finally looks like a live zombie. (far, far away). Meg Ryan looks very happy ...even after her husband has been kidnapped for many months. I do know this is the movie where Meg and the Crowe started there love affair...perhaps its true what they say about the Crowe. (anyway Meg sure looks happy). David Morse as Megs husband is never convincing in his role. The jumpy direction certainly does not help....and the continual instant changing of locations is not good. Its a movie with high ambitions ..it is also a bomb

This is a terrific movie, and I'm not the only one who thinks so and as such is well under-rated. It manages to combine a great storyline full of action and suspense with a love interest as well. The romantic aspect is of course really subtle, and all the more compelling because of this, and doesn't get in the way of the action.Crowe is just brilliant, and totally believable, as the kidnapping and ransom specialist Terry Thorne who is called in to rescue Peter Bowman, the husband of Alice played by Meg Ryan. Meg Ryan I think plays her part quite well, but it's hard to see what Russell Crowe's character saw in her romantically.The location and all the supporting character performances also have a real air of authenticity about them.