Unthinkable (2010)

A psychological thriller centered around a black-ops interrogator and an F.B.I. 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:

torture | interrogation | muslim | electric shock | torture device | 

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Taglines:

How far would you go to make him talk?

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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 Russian Ukrainian

Release Date:

26 May 2010 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

El día del juicio final

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?

Trivia

[All trivia items for this title are spoilers.]

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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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Alternate Versions

Extended version features an alternate ending where a team of FBI agents approach one of the bombs in a building. An FBI agent disarms the bomb, the team celebrates, and the camera pans to another bomb that's hidden. The bomb counts down to the time of its detonation and the film ends.

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Connections

References 24 (2001)

User Reviews

Edgy, fast-paced, scary thriller

How much do we value our freedom? When faced with exceptional circumstances, how far will we go to ascertain the truth, to secure safety? To ensure national security? "Unthinkable" is a problematic movie, in that it gives no clear answers. The premise may be slightly extreme, if we consider what H (Samuel L. Jackson) gets up to, but then again, with some rationalizing we easily reach the conclusion that we simply don't know just how far America has gone in the legal torture business.

We do not intend to point the finger at America in particular. This applies to any and everyone. Faced with extenuating circumstances, what would we do? Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen. "Unthinkable" is a very current, undebatably intense uneasy ride down a steep, winding and twisting tunnel.

In the end we are left with nothing. It is up to us to decide what is our moral charter.

Well worth your while. 8/10