Sound of Freedom

I was prepared to be insulted by this film as aggressively stupid QAnon propaganda, I was prepared to take it graciously as a solidly paced thriller, but I wasn't prepared for it to be such a cruel bore. Absolutely unexciting in every way, a "retiree thriller". The events around it were orders of magnitude more interesting. (23.10.2023)

It’s reassuring to know that James Caviezel hasn’t hung up his acting boots, as his immense talent could be envied by many in the industry. Sound of Freedom tackles a difficult topic that’s not often discussed in society: child abductions and trafficking. Watching it can be quite unsettling, with some moments sending chills down your spine. But what about the film’s quality itself? It’s immediately clear that this isn’t a low-budget production. The money is visible in the final result, without a doubt. The acting is also top-notch; besides Caviezel, who gives a performance of a lifetime, I must commend the performances of the two main kidnapped children. They had a challenging role, but they pulled it off with flying colors. I was holding my breath during the final escape from the Colombian jungle. Yes, real-life agent Ballard is a hero. There's no other way to put it. I recommend everyone see this. It’s definitely a topic that should be discussed openly in societal circles. I give it 7.5/10. (16.12.2023)

A crime drama-thriller based on true events about the kidnapping of children and their subsequent sexual enslavement. Alejandro Monteverde made a film that created a big buzz and became an unexpected financial hit overseas. It has a strong message on a sensitive subject and parents may not be comfortable watching it, although there are no explicit scenes. For me it was a sort of light version of Vega's Small World which took paedophiles in its stride without any pretensions and served a very strong stew that was not nice to watch (I recommend it if you haven’t seen it), so unfortunately I can't avoid the comparison. The story focuses on a federal agent (James Caviezel) who decides on his own to rescue two siblings who have recently been kidnapped. Directionally, the film is on a decent level, likewise with the acting, the capture of the paedophiles in the opening was fine, it had a bit of a darker atmosphere at times, but most of the time the film flows slowly and nothing much interesting happens. At least the Colombian jungle finale was interesting, it gave it a bit of exoticism, and the realistic shots at the end were also nice. All in all, a decent film that highlights child abductions, which are on the rise these days, which is really crazy and scary. 6/10. (22.10.2023)