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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Proof of Life
Warner Bros.


7.4

based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 12 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: R for violence, language and some drug material.

Starring Meg Ryan, Russell Crowe, David Morse, David Caruso, Pamela Reed, Anthony Heald, Stanley Anderson, and Gottfried John

Peter Bowman (Morse), an American engineer in a Latin American country, is kidnapped for a $3 million dollar ransom. Abandoned by her husband's employer and insurance company, his wife Alice (Ryan) refuses to give up on his life. She takes on the task of bringing him home but quickly realizes she can't do that without help. An expert in "K & R" (Kidnap & Ransom), Terry Thorne (Crowe) is Alice's best and only hope for saving Peter. (Warner Bros.)

GENRE(S):	Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Tony Gilroy William Prochnau (article Adventures in the Ransom Trade) Thomas Hargrove (book The Long March To Freedom)
DIRECTED BY:	Taylor Hackford
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: June 19, 2001 Video: June 3, 2003 Theatrical: December 8, 2000
RUNNING TIME:	135 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Tribune Marc Caro

The movie delivers on its own terms. It may emerge a bit bruised and tattered around the edges, but its ever-beating heart provides the ultimate Proof of Life.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Fortunately, this film doesn't have to depend on off-screen dalliances to prove its worth.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

Proof of Life won't hold your heart hostage for very long after it's over, but here's looking at Russell Crowe -- he's the real deal, sweetheart.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Whatever romantic tension the film has is communicated in the coiled-spring performance by Crowe, one of the most remarkable actors working.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Disappointingly routine kidnapping thriller with soap-opera trimmings.

USA Today Mike Clark

It's never enough of a grabber to keep the mind from wandering to the romance it apparently sparked.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

The romantic subtext of their characters' relationship is the film's chief liability, and feels forced and undeveloped.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

It's absorbing, although draggy.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

I was interested all through the movie--interested, but not riveted. I cared, but not quite enough.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Against the lush backdrop of the Andes, Crowe and Caruso define on-screen cool: good guys in a match of wits and firepower who even talk about their emotions.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

His (Crowe) emotionally charged performance stands in contrast to Ryan's annoying, movie-star turn.

LA Weekly Manohla Dargis

Exactly the sort of good bad movie that Hollywood does best -- it's big, worthless fun.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

When it's dull, which it is too often for a kidnap caper, this movie is about a woman chirping ''notice anything new about my outfit?'' to a man whose idea of style is a jacket not crusted in human blood.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

An ambitious film that aims to examine the human equations behind the abductions. But for all its good intentions, it's not as subtle as it might be, and it's finally pitched too broadly to achieve the level of emotional truth it aims for.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

In Proof of Life it's the same old story, a fight for love and glory, except that time goes by . . . slowwwwly.

Slate David Edelstein

Crowe gets to use his real Aussie voice, which works better with that poker face, and his underplaying at times has a psychotic intensity. But Ryan looks dopey when she's supposed to be stressed-out.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Morse and Caruso provide better reasons to see this film than do Ryan and Crowe.

Newsweek David Ansen

This slick, handsomely produced thriller only gets the pulse half racing.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

What ultimately sinks this stylish but heartless film is a flat lead performance by the eternally snippy Meg Ryan.

Salon.com Michael Sragow

Everything about Proof of Life is intriguing and a little off.

Film.com Peter Brunette

Flat and thoroughly predictable piece of filmmaking.

Variety Todd McCarthy

A disappointingly routine thriller that prefers to lean on tired Hollywood conventions rather than to explore fresh dramatic and stylistic territory.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Slim pickings.

Film.com Gemma Files

This is half a good movie held hostage to the other, trashier half, and unfortunately for all of us, no rescue seems forthcoming.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

It's Rambo with a split hero -- Morse absorbing punishment and Crowe wreaking vengeance.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

A hostage drama without any tension. It is a love story without any heat. It is as curiously empty a movie as we've seen all year.

San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham

A hostage drama that oscillates between soap opera and action flick.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Proof of Life isn't a movie. It's an overpriced scrapbook.

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

Proof of Life kidnaps the audience, then tortures it to a slow death

The average user rating for this movie is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a7:
I wasn't impressed or dissapointed. It showed the cruelty of those Guerilla camps. Unfortunately, all the negotating ultimately led up to a hollywood breakout scene. Luckily, that scenes is well done and exciting, and you get to see some well deserved revenge.

Bob gave it a 0:
This movie SUCKED. It's overlong, unconvincing, the plotline is weak, and a waste of two hours of my time.

Pat C. gave it a 6:
Beautiful location, great stars, lots of action. Romantic situation handled like real people would (or should). Or maybe they knew they'd get bored with each other if they continued. Action-wise, if Jack Lemmon in "Missing" had been Rambo, this would have been the result. But the movie also has a bad smell, a hint of Formula. Not quite sure where it's coming from, but it makes the movie drag.

Ryan M. gave it a 8:
A sly get-the-husband-whoops-ive-already-fallen-for-another-guy flick. But it does it's part.

Sal Q. gave it a 6:
A good movie, that's well acted. The...ending was a little unbelievable. (Ed: Potential spoiler omitted)

Thomas B. gave it a 10:
This movie touched me. The acting was great but don't take me wrong this is not a comedy. It's a suspense/thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and the one thing that I loved was this movie told me deep down inside of me that i will find my dad one day. So in conclusion, this is a great movie. It was so good I have seen it 7 times!

Proof of Life Warner Bros.

Proof of Life
Warner Bros.