The Film
Why isn't Rachel Weisz a bigger name? The woman is insanely talented. More recently, she's made more headlines for being Mrs. James Bond (she's married to Daniel Craig). However, she should keep her teaming with him off-screen (Dream House, meh) and stick to roles like The Whistleblower.
This small movie was inspired by big events -- true ones, apparently. However, this is a tale so horrying, you really want the whole thing to be a crazy urban legend. It's just that repulsive, but it's also a pretty gripping movie.
Weisz plays Kathryn Bolkovac, an American cop who takes a job in post-war Bosnia as part of the UN's international peacekeeping force. However, after her short tenure there, she slowly begins to unravel a sex trafficking ring that extends to high levels of the government and the military, as well as private contractors. Of course, all of them have diplomatic immunity, so what's an honest cop (and mother) to do? Blow the whole thing wide open, of course.
The Whistleblower didn't make a big splash in theaters. That could be because it's a Canadian-German co-production. It could be the insanely disturbing subject matter and a few graphic scenes. Just grit your teeth and go for it. The film takes about 20 minutes to get set up, but from there, the fast pace and Weisz's gripping performance make The Whistleblower one that you won't want to miss.
The Picture
The Whistleblower is not a pretty movie in any sense of the word, which is exactly how it's supposed to be. The setting is post-war Bosnia, so it's pretty gritty throughout. Don't expect anything to really pop, especially when it comes to color. Those are as dark as the subject matter. The 2.35:1 transfer features a decent layer of grain and yes it is dark, but that never drowns out any of the detail, which is this release's strongest suit. Facial details are particularly strong, most notably in the film's close-ups.
The Sound
Like the image, this release's DTS-HD Master Audio track is nothing to get that excited about. However, it delivers. Despite the film's pace, the main focus here is the dialogue, which sounds wonderful. Not to worry, though. There's some occasional oomph for your subwoofer and plenty of atmospheric sound effects sprinkled through the surrounds, including screeching car wheels and bar chatter. It's certainly better than average, but not all that memorable.
The Extras
This release's lone extra is "Kathy Bolkovac: The Real Whistleblower," which is dedicated to the real-life Kathy Bolkovac. That would be fine, except that this featurette is about 5.5 minutes. Bolkovac appears and it is nice to hear the film's inpiration actually speak. However, it seems like this should have been a lengthier, less fluffy piece. Also, it would have been great if Bolkovac contributed to a commentary or some other extras, but that's it. There isn't even a theatrical trailer.
Final Thoughts
The subject matter behind The Whistleblower would probably be enough to keep viewers at a distance. Can't say that we'd blame you. That said, this thriller will keep you interested and on the edge of your seat, thanks to a fast pace and a wonderful performance by Rachel Weisz. It's one worth picking up.
Product Details
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