An Ordinary Man

Have seen this excellent film with a 1st Class performance by both Ben Kingsley and the maid Hera Hilmar, kudos to both!

A truly moving experience! This presentation has everything, love, honour, justice, vengeance, hatred, hope, hopelessness. This is filled with superb acting and I was left knowing the cost of knowledge. To what or to whom will we sacrifice our all?

Intriguing film. Kept me guessing as to what would happen next. Ben Kingsley gives an excellent performance. I was struck by the scene in the country when an old woman seemingly ignores Kingsley, but just touches the side of his face as she passes him. Great moment. Not a perfect film, but definitely worth seeing.

An American drama thriller; A story about an infamous war criminal living in one of the states of the former Yugoslavia who spends his life on the run from international authoritiesand discovered by a young woman whom he makes his new maid. An artistic choice was made to have the characters speak in their native accents, and in particular for Kingsley to produce a North Lancashire/West Yorkshire English accent which allowed expression to come freely. But, despite a riveting performance from Kingsley the script is a let down. It struggles to find a groove and remain plausible and no number of surprises in the plot changed that. Motivating an audience to understand a genocidal person bound by circumstance is troublesome if the audience gains no real insight into the character's feeling.

A former general (Ben Kingsley) is wanted by the international community for war crimes. He is being protected by his supporters. He gets moved again and gets new maid Tanja (Hera Hilmar). He is suspicious of the young maid who isn't good at cleaning or cooking.

This is following the wrong protagonist. Sure, Kingsley is the biggest actor here or most anywhere. That instinct only goes so far. He should not be the subject of the movie. Nobody cares if he lives or dies or captured. There is no tension without the rooting interest. Any possible rooting interest resides with Tanja. She should be the protagonist. The mystery of her intentions can be maintain and the reveal would actually mean something. The audience should be invested with her instead of him. The ending should have been shocking but it's met with a shrug and a meh. The idea of making this monster human could be compelling but it needs the context of the war. Without it, nobody can truly get a feel for him.