Opération Beyrouth

Tony Gilroy's thriller "Beirut", tautly directed by Brad Anderson, propels that iconic "Mad Men" tv star Jon Hamm into the long-vacant Hollywood position created in the '40s by Humphrey Bogart. It's a character persona of disillusioned, world-weary masculine presence that springs into action, however reluctantly, when absolutely necessary.

Previous IMDb reviews of this exciting film either have been premature (of the "Gee, I can't wait to see it" non-review content) or ignorantly dismissive, as if fiction had to be judged by reality standards, or location hunting be abandoned in favor of merely using the practical "real" places from the script. I guess Matt Damon in "The Martian" was somehow exempt from that latter idiotic requirement.

Several hit films come to mind, clearly "Argo" the most relevant in terms of demonstrating box office potential, and Hamm is blessed with a talented and selfless co-star in a key yet subdued role by Rosamund Pike, coincidentally having risen to stardom in "Argo" maestro Ben Affleck's "Gone Girl". The director cites Peter Weir's "The Year of Living Dangerously" as a key influence, and that's a fine source to draw from.

I appoint Hamm as the next Bogie because in addition to his classic good looks as leading man he captures here and in "Mad Men" the uncanny ability to define a film noir hero -self-divided, prone to hitting the bottle, and winning over a viewer no matter how close he comes to betraying his best moral instincts in service of self-interest. Certainly he could handle a remake of "Casablanca" (perhaps with currently hot-hot Scandi star Alicia VIkander as co-star) without much of a stretch.

Though low-budget and closer to pulp than a major Hollywood blockbuster, "Beirut" succeeds because it is fun, not because it is giving us a history lesson. The cliches of its genre and the unfortunate real-life cliches of the Middle East as a quagmire work very well in the traditional roller-coaster ride that is what Hollywood does best. Quibbling over accuracy is absurd; rather Gilroy should be commended for fashioning, over a period of several decades, a tight script that makes its historical points while firmly inhabiting the fantasy land of movies.

Expected more in all honesty. Gives a very brief outline of an aspect of a very complicated conflict. Solid performances from the cast and solid direction from Brad Anderson. Middle of the road Middle Eastern thriller which just lacks cohesion and at does drag at certain points.

In 1972, Mason Skiles (Jom Hamm) is a U.S. diplomat in Lebanon living in Beirut with his Lebanese wife, Nadia (Leika Bekhti) . They have recently started caring for Karim, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy who claims he is without a family , but he has actually a brother who has been linked to the 1972 Munich massacre. While hosting a party , Skiles is confronted by his friend, CIA analyst Cal Riley (Mark Pellegrino) , who wants to question Karim . Then the party is attacked by Karim's brother , Rami, and there takes place an ensuing gunfight with dramatic consequences . Ten years later , Skiles has become an alcoholic and is working as a self-employed labor arbitrator in New England . While arbitrating a labor issue between particularly intransigent parties and struggling to keep his small firm afloat , he is approached by Sully (Douglas Hodge) , an old client, on behalf of the U.S. government . Beirut: 1982 there Skile meets some CIA officers : Sandy Crowder (Rosamund Pike) , Gary Ruzak (Shea Whigham) and Donald Gaines (Dean Norris) to carry out a risked mission . The events developed in this film led to the known in Lebanon as "the invasion" , it began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) invaded southern Lebanon , after repeated attacks and counter-attacks between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operating in southern Lebanon and the IDF that had caused civilian casualties on both sides of the border . The military operation was launched after gunmen from Abu Nidal's organization attempted to assassinate Shlomo Argov, Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin blamed Abu Nidal's enemy , the PLO, for the incident,and used the incident as a casus belli for the invasion, subsequently , there took place Sabra and Shatila massacre of Palestinians and Lebanese.¨The Paris of the Middle East Was Burning . The Americans want to keep their secrets . The Israelis want to raise the stakes . He only wants to save a life¨.

Engaging and dark picture , skill montage , magnificent acting , thrills , plot twists , emotion and intense drama . Concerning murky and dark issues , dealing with thorny themes of corruption and betrayal in which our protagonists become involved . Set in Beirut , Lebanon, when it was full of a lot of warlike organitations and militias , especially formed by Drusos , Christians , Maronits , Falangists , Palestinians of PLO , Chii of Hamas , Sunnies , among others . In the movie there is action filled , brief studio character , drama with turns , as well as moving chases . It was originally conceived as a tense as well as thrilling flick based on actual events well written by Tony Gilroy though diverting in an action thriller , at times . Gilroy's fictionalized portrayal of U.S.A, Israeli and PLO -Palestine Liberation Organization- scheming in 1982 Lebanon ultimately proved too hot to handle , resulting in a real Lebanon encroachment . Jon Hamm is pretty well as the former U.S. diplomat caught in the crossfires of civil war, then CIA operatives must send to negotiate for the life of a friend he abandoned . And Rosemund Pike is very good as brave and stubborn CIA agent who helps him to execute his purport to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind. In addition , a frankly fine support cast , such as Shea Whigham , Mark Pellegrino , Leïla Bekhti , Kate Fleetwood , Larry Pine , Douglas Hodge and Dean Norris.

It contains an atmospheric and evocative photography by Cinematographer Bjorn Charpentier, this expert cameraman paid homage to the time period chronicled in Beirut by fitting his cameras with vintage lenses, in fact those lenses were built from that era . And shot on location in Rhode Island and Tangier . Being accompanied by a thrilling and stirring musical score by John Debney. The motion picture was competently and splendidly made by US director Brad Anderson , though it had limited success at box-office. Brad Anderson was born in Madison, Connecticut, USA and was graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival . He is a notorious director and producer, known for Next Stop Wonderland (1998) , Session 9 (2001), The machinist (2004) , Transsiberian (2008) , The Call (2013) , Asylum (2014) , among others .

As a movie this is a solid, dependable thriller with a really solid performance by Jon Hamm, as well as by a range of supporting players who turn in good, taunt performances. The one exception is Rosamund Pike whom is a great actor, but is ill-used. I suspect there were a number of scenes left on the editing floor.

This movie will be controversial because of its depictions of Beirut, as well as lack of agency of the Lebanese people. These criticisms are valid, but at the same time it is very hard for Hollywood, let alone a Western director and writer to get the right nuance and tension of the period AND make a successful movie. To the critics, you have a point, but this is a thriller, not a documentary.

If you are looking for a modern spy/espionage movie, this should be on your list. Plus I would love to see more Jon Hamm in these types of roles...well done.

One reviewer indicated this was not filmed in Beirut and the city wasn't in the condition as depicted. Not ever having been there I won't dispute but the images of the damages and treatment of individuals were horrifying and set the tone for the film. But, terrorist activities in the area has been well documented since recorded history. Jon Hamm was exceptional in the development of his character and Rosemary Pike may have been somewhat miscast but she managed her character fairly well. What was most disturbing was the probability of sacrificing one to maintain a precarious "peace" in the Region. And, of course, there is the issue of corruption by a U.S. official in another country (go figure). All in all it is a complex story with something of an unlikely conclusion but it was still extremely entertaining.