If you were put off by the interview tactics of 24's fictional Counter Terrorism Agent Jack Bauer this movie is not for you.
Imagine if a terrorist built three nuclear bombs and planted them in three different cities across the United States. He then sent a tape to the government advising about the threat. Those bombs were set to explode at the same time four days after the tape was sent. Now that you have that picture... imagine if the same terrorist then shot a cop to get noticed and allowed himself to be captured. Are you with me so far? Well, that's the basic set up for Unthinkable.
***if this sounds like a movie you would like to see...don't read any further as there will be spoilers***
From there we see the lengths that two different individuals will go to in search of the truth about the bombs. The first is FBI Agent Helen Brody, played by the talented Carrie-Anne Moss. The second is master interrogator Henry Herald 'H' Humphries, played by Samuel L. Jackson.
Agent Brody is the by the book lead agent in the FBI's Los Angeles office. "H" on the other hand, as we come to find out, is under the protection of the CIA. It turns out that his skill with interrogation has led him to make some seriously bad enemies through the years. When these two are brought together under the guidance of the military to get answer from terrorist Steven Arthur Younger (Michael Sheen) we get a clash of ideals and methods.
"H" is the master of physical interrogation, otherwise knows as torture. While Brody is opposed to torture on both a personal level and a legal level. The two go back and forth on what needs to be done in order to get Younger to give up the locations of the 3 nukes.
When I say that "H" is comfortable with the torture aspect I'm not talking about stress positions, sleep deprivation, and loud noises. No, I mean TORTURE. Electric shock, pulling finger nails (and then removing fingers) and that's not even the Unthinkable portions of his methods.
Brody would be the carrot to H's stick. The honey to his vinegar. The talking to Younger like a person to H's beating him like a rented mule.
The movie is constantly asking the question, "Does the ends justify the means?" If this terrorist has to lose a few fingers and endure hours of pain in order to same millions of lives...is it worth it? The longer it draws out the more blurred the line between right and wrong becomes.
At one point, a few days into the torture and only a day until the nukes are set to blow, H turns to Brody and tells her, "if you tell me to stop, I'll stop. Just say the words." Brody, who up to this point has been the moral compass, has no response and the torture continues. H is a machine and he will do anything to achieve the desired outcome. This drive and mechanical nature when it comes to his "work" is what has landed him in the protective custody, and employ, of the CIA.
Without giving away the ending lets just say the UNTHINKABLE is not what he does to Younger's mind or body.
If you do find yourself watching this movie you'll find yourself identifying with one camp or the other. The real question is given the tactics and the potential risk will you keep your conviction? Does, the life and rights of one person outweigh the loss of millions of lives?
I also suggest that you watch the regular ending of the movie and then watch the extended alt. ending. Both have an impact, but for different reasons.
Overall it was a good drama that didn't make you think to figure out what is going to happen next. But, it does make you think. I would recommend this direct to DVD release to any fan of drama. Michael Sheen, as usual, gives a stand out performance. Fans of Jackson and Moss won't be disappointed either.
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