Unthinkable (2010)

A psychological thriller centered around a black-ops interrogator and an FBI agent who press a suspect terrorist into divulging the location of three nuclear weapons set to detonate in the U.S.

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writer:

Peter Woodward

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Michael Sheen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Henry Harold 'H' Humphries
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Agent Helen Brody
Michael Sheen	...	Steven Arthur Younger
Stephen Root	...	Charles Thompson
Lora Kojovic	...	Rina Humphries
Martin Donovan	...	Assistant Director Jack Saunders
Gil Bellows	...	Agent Vincent
Vincent Laresca	...	Agent Leandro
Brandon Routh	...	Agent D.J. Jackson
Joshua Harto	...	Agent Phillips
Holmes Osborne	...	General Paulson
Michael Rose	...	Colonel Kerkmejian
Randy Oglesby	...	Mr. Bradley
Benito Martinez	...	Alvarez
Sasha Roiz	...	Interrogator Lubitchich

Storyline

A convert to Islam sends the U.S. government a tape showing him in three nondescript storage rooms, each of which may contain a nuclear bomb set to detonate in less than a week. Helen Brody, an FBI agent in L.A., is tasked with finding the bombs while a CIA "consultant," known as H, interrogates the suspect who has allowed himself to be caught. The suspect, whose wife and children have left him and disappeared, seems to know exactly what the interrogation will entail. Even as H ratchets up the pressure, using torture over Brody's objection, the suspect doesn't crack. Should H do the unthinkable, and will Brody acquiesce? Is any Constitutional principle worth possible loss of life?

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Plot Keywords:

bomb | fbi agent | torture | terrorist | black ops | 

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Taglines:

Right and Wrong no longer exist

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence, torture and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 2010 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Unthinkable - Der Preis der Wahrheit

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lleju Productions, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Kimmel International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In Yusuf's video displaying the nuclear bombs, the radioactive material container has the word "Chernivtsi" written in Ukrainian language. Chernivtsi is a city in Ukraine, near border with Romania. Origin of bomb's radioactive material is supposed to be in Russia, making a clear geographical mistake, besides there is no nuclear power station or radioactive fuel process plant in Chernivtsi region.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Steven Arthur Younger: [into video camera] My name is Steven Arthur Younger. I am an American citizen.

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Connections

Follows Room 13: The Terrorist Project (2003)

User Reviews

Unwatchable

Insofar as a social comment on the current pre-occupation with Islam and its links to organised terrorism, this film is like any other of its ilk, simply Hollywood cashing-in on a popular fear of the moment. It neither demonises nor martyrs the religion, its merely the topical vehicle out of which the focus is an interrogation of a self-ascribed "terrorist" (Sheen) by Samuel L.Jackson's character, employing the most vile, inhumane methods possible to extract information that will potentially save the world.

Overblown alleged "thriller" is essentially memorable only for one scene, earning the title name, and while it seems implausible, the film is asking you to suspend disbelief and open your mind to conspiracy theory. Not an especially original concept. Carrie-Anne Moss is utterly wasted in another empty badge-wearing role, while the laconic Jackson has some humorous dialogue and interesting contrasts (delivering a near-fatal beating one moment, talking of trivial family matters with his daughter on the phone the next), but these are only brief pauses in an otherwise laboured saga.