The Mauritanian

Name: The Mauritanian
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: February 12, 2021
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Aly Deyde, Arthur Falko, Baba Mine, Baya Belal, Benedict Cumberbatch

2021

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 20 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 20 Ratings

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The Mauritanian (International Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Film & TV House | Release Date: February 12, 2021 | R

Starring: Aly Deyde, Arthur Falko, Baba Mine, Baya Belal, Benedict Cumberbatch, Clayton Boyd, Corey Johnson, David Fynn, El Hocine Aba, Francis Chouler, Jodie Foster, Langley Kirkwood, Lemrabott Zeine Sidamar, Matthew Marsh, Meena Rayann, Melissa Haiden, Mohamed Abderrahmane Arava, Mohamed Yeslem Mousse, Nezar Alderazi, Nouhe Hamady Bari, Saadna Hamoud, Saamer Usmani, Shailene Woodley, Stevel Marc, Tahar Rahim, Toni Jean Erasmus, Zachary Levi

Summary: Captured by the U.S. Government, Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) languishes in prison for years without charge or trial. Losing all hope, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley). Together they face countless obstacles in a desperate pursuit for justice. TheirCaptured by the U.S. Government, Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) languishes in prison for years without charge or trial. Losing all hope, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley). Together they face countless obstacles in a desperate pursuit for justice. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), eventually reveals a shocking and far reaching conspiracy. Based on the New York Times best-selling memoir, this is the explosive true story of a fight for survival against all odds.… Expand

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 129 min

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Critic Reviews

The Playlist Christian Gallichio

Jan 12, 2021

In the end, The Mauritanian is an efficient procedural that condemns the Bush-era treatment of detainees more effectively than any other recent narrative film. It’s an affecting, but nevertheless tragic, watch. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Feb 11, 2021

Director Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void) gives the movie both the global sweep of a thriller and the more granular details of a procedural, though in the end hardly any of it takes place in a courtroom. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Feb 11, 2021

It’s not simply that it’s “too soon” for such movies. That’s highly debatable. More to the point is that the stark reality of these explosive events as we live through them – in the news, in real time, on TV and through investigative documentaries – potentially outflanks any attempt to dramatize them using embellished scenarios and famous actors. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

Jan 12, 2021

Perhaps the biggest issue for The Mauritanian is that the screenplay by M.B Traven and Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani tries to accommodate too many protagonists. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Feb 12, 2021

The Mauritanian fails to humanize the story it’s telling, never coming off as something more challenging or interesting than a superficial, manipulative accounting of true events. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jan 15, 2021

The screenplay needed more work and the film in the can a lot more editing to make The Mauritanian worthy of the talent on the set. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jan 13, 2021

This movie is content with congratulating itself for being on the right side of history, with little attention paid to questions unanswered and history unresolved. Read full review

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User Reviews

Lianella

Feb 13, 2021

I didn't know anything about the story and suddenly I bought the ticket. I have seen a lot film and in my opinion it's the best film in 2020 and 2021 till now ! I just shocked by this true story and performance of Tahar Rahim. I can't stop thinking about it , it had some problems but itI didn't know anything about the story and suddenly I bought the ticket. I have seen a lot film and in my opinion it's the best film in 2020 and 2021 till now ! I just shocked by this true story and performance of Tahar Rahim. I can't stop thinking about it , it had some problems but it had so much more great points that made me ignore little problems!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Johnpas

Feb 12, 2021

Wonderful and eye_opening film, just cant believe that is a true story. !!!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Allal01

Feb 12, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Top movies in the world … Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Stream2BigScree

Feb 12, 2021

Peace be unto you, Streamers! This weekend some new movies are coming at you that we've heard a lot of buzz about. I was able to catch an early screening of one I didn't know much about, The Mauritanian. Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster were recently nominated for Golden Globes for theirPeace be unto you, Streamers! This weekend some new movies are coming at you that we've heard a lot of buzz about. I was able to catch an early screening of one I didn't know much about, The Mauritanian. Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster were recently nominated for Golden Globes for their performances in this film, so there must be something here, right? Here's how I see it.

A brief synopsis goes something like this: from the best-selling memoir "Guantánamo Diary" by Mohamedou Ould Slahi. The Mauritanian tells the harrowing account of Slahi, who spent years imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay without being charged, fighting for his freedom from captivity with the help of a dogged defense attorney, Nancy Hollander, and her associate, Teri Duncan. Slahi was accused, but never charged, of participating in the orchestration of the attack on the United Stated on September 11, 2001. Slahi and his attorneys have to fight the United States Government in order to uncover the truth about his imprisonment and eventually for his release, meeting multiple roadblocks and seemingly insurmountable odds.

Kevin Macdonald directs what is ultimately a standard legal drama with only the added bonus that this film is based on a true story. The movie hits all of the beats of one of those legal dramas including an emotional courtroom speech. It's not too cliched, but it gets close. Macdonald uses flashbacks and Slahi's own words to depict his account of how he ended up at Guantanamo, which are the parts that focus squarely on Tahar Rahim as Slahi. These are the most emotional and engrossing parts. The other half of the movie takes place in the present day as Hollander, as played by Jodie Foster, navigates the complicated system that has held Slahi without charges for year. These parts are less interesting because from the outset of the movie the innocence of Slahi is assumed and all sympathies are with him. The United States Government is essentially our big bad villain in this story. That's fine for the hindsight of 2020/2021, but there must have been more moral conflicts at the time when these events actually occurred. Nevertheless, what Slahi endured was devastating and embarrassing for the world's leading democracy.

On the performance front, Tahar Rahim is great in this film. I understand why the Golden Globes nominated him in the Best Actor race. He projects such sincerity and warmth. He also depicts the endurance and perseverance that must have been necessary for Slahi. I haven't seen Rahim in anything before, but he's one to look out for. Jodie Foster is also good as Slahi's lawyer. Foster has a competence and steeliness that this attorney would have needed. It must have been difficult walking into Guantanamo to defend an accused terrorist and Foster show the steadfast spirit of the woman who took this on. Even though the legal parts were less interesting to me, it does not take away from Foster's very good work throughout the film.

The Mauritanian is a good movie. While one half of it is more interesting than the other, the interesting half is very much worthwhile and the less interesting half isn't dreadfully boring. On balance, I say it is worth a bowl of popcorn. Please be warned that some of The Mauritanian is not for the feint of heart.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

HerickDiener

Mar 3, 2021

Desde "The Silence of the Lambs" não tem como não se arrepiar quando vemos Jodie Foster caminhando por corredores de uma prisão. Em "The Mauritanian" vemos ela com o mesmo fogo nos olhos, mas, diferente do clássico supracitado, aqui temos alguns deslizes oriundos de escolhas da direção. AlgoDesde "The Silence of the Lambs" não tem como não se arrepiar quando vemos Jodie Foster caminhando por corredores de uma prisão. Em "The Mauritanian" vemos ela com o mesmo fogo nos olhos, mas, diferente do clássico supracitado, aqui temos alguns deslizes oriundos de escolhas da direção. Algo que um Tahar Rahim fantástico te fará esquecer rapidamente.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Beecee

Feb 26, 2021

I was able to qualify for an advance screening of this important film. The true story of a man who was unfairly incarcerated in Guantanamo for circumstantial evidence then coerced into a confession is tightly written. The acting is superb, including the amazing Tahar Rahim in the leadingI was able to qualify for an advance screening of this important film. The true story of a man who was unfairly incarcerated in Guantanamo for circumstantial evidence then coerced into a confession is tightly written. The acting is superb, including the amazing Tahar Rahim in the leading role. The only warning: Some parts of the film are very difficult to watch, but necessary to tell the story. This film really does tell a story that must be told.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

UncleWillard

Mar 4, 2021

Great acting, well filmed, but I have a hard time with the plot? Are we supposed to feel sorry for a man who definitely had ties to Al Qaeda? Who received a phone call directly from Bin Laden's phone? I absolutely agree that what he went through was unjust, and America needs to do betterGreat acting, well filmed, but I have a hard time with the plot? Are we supposed to feel sorry for a man who definitely had ties to Al Qaeda? Who received a phone call directly from Bin Laden's phone? I absolutely agree that what he went through was unjust, and America needs to do better job, however it was no more unjust than what happened to the innocent victims better. The blame here belongs to Al Qaeda and bin Laden. This is what happens when you fly planes into buildings in one of the most powerful nations in the world; injustice. 911 is to blame for what happened to this man.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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73	#73 Best Movie of 2021
17	#17 Most Discussed Movie of 2021