Young pimp,
Nice handle. I doubt anyone with that name reads much, but you should read Mariane's book. She comes across much differently.
Mrs. Pearl and her friend had to organize the investigation because the agencies in Pakistan are chaotic, as is typical in third world countries. Bribes must change hands to get info. It's a way of life. Mariane tried to stay calm & sane, but she knew if she did not step up and try to help in the search for Danny, she might never see him again. Tragically, those fears were realized.
A very key point was left out of the movie. The original kidnappers intended to release Pearl, but "sold" him to another group of terrorists for $50,000 who thought if they killed him and videotaped the execution it would encourage more people to join the "jihad". It was also published in Pakistani newspapers that Pearl was working for the Israeli spy organization Mossad. False. However, in a rabidly anti-Semitic environment, it was extremely dangerous for Danny to be represented as working for Israel while pretending he was American, both of which nationalities are widely despised in that region. This misinformation led people to protect those involved with the kidnappers.
Mariane knew all this since she was a journalist herself and married to a man whose job was to study the politics of the region. Educated & street smart, too. No wonder Daniel loved her so.
She also explains that Danny was the most careful man she knew, always checked his sources. He had written a memo to the Wall Street Journal the year prior explaining that access to immediate cash for bribes was the most important security the WSJ journalists could have. He suggested having cash in Hilton hotel vaults in "hot" cities since banks in 3rd world countries close on weekends, and ATMs are not on every corner as in developed nations.
Get your facts straight before you attack a brave, spiritual, & profound, woman -- a fine writer and activist.
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Young_Pimp
15 years ago
Oh Play the world's saddest song on the smallest violin.
I'm not talking about the films factual fidelity or the kidnappers inconsistencies. "Mrs. Pearl" did anything but stay calm and came across as an arrogant, bullying harridan and even displayed some crypto-racist undertones against those investigators. I suppose if the investigation is "chaotic" this kind of behavior is acceptable in your eyes.
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Spellbinder888
14 years ago
Why can't you understand that Jolie's portrayal of Pearl is just that, a portrayal. Can you really sum up the attitude of a women through the performance of someone pretending to be her?
If you can, or if you think you can, then you're a simpleton.
I personally think Angelina is very arrogant and insincere. If you got that impression from watching A Mighty Heart then at least remind yourself that you are watching an egotistical actress, not a serious journalist.
I've read Marianne Pearl's book in which the film was based on. She does not on any level come across as unlikeable, bullying or arrogant.
If you're going to make any accusations to this effect then blame it on Jolie.
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Sapere-Aude
14 years ago
@gioconda
Even though I have no doubt that what you wrote about the case details are correct.
I still have to agree with the OP, on the ground that a movie can not be made with the assumption that the viewing public already knows every detail of the actual events. The movie itself has to tell the story.
Which this move clearly failed to do! You yourself basically point out that many major details and important facets of the events where either misrepresented or completely left out of the screen play which begs the question what was the objective of this movie?
Joelie's portrayal of Mariane Pearl made her completely and utterly dislikeable form the word get go and left the viewer detached. Especially those audience members who have no prior knowledge of the actual events (case details) and get their first perhaps only impression of Mrs Pearl in this movie.
This movie told the story poorly, was badly written and badly acted.
I also fail to understand the title of this movie?!
A Mighty Heart! Who's mighty heart?
What happened to him was utterly unconscientiably horrific there is no doubt about that; but lets be realistic for a moment, Daniel Pearl was an intelligent, educated grown man who new the risks he was taking (especially given the anti Semitic hate culture of Pakistan) going into this.
The same applies to his wife. One could even argue that there was a level of irresponsibility, given that she was 5 month pregnant and should have had the safety of their unborn child as her main priority and not have put herself or himself into this avoidable danger.
Is she the one considered the 'mighty heart', if so why? For fearing for her husband after the kidnapping and pushing authorities along? The truth is; she did nothing unusual or exceptional. Every family member, friend or even close co-worker [employer] being on location and in the same position would have done the same under these tragic circumstances.
I really would have liked to give this movie a better rating, but I don't think it deserves better than 5 out of 10.
R.I.P. Daniel Pearl
"Equitare, arcum tendere,veritatem dicere."
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