An enormously moving document of the tense days between Pearl’s capture and the news that he was dead.
A Mighty Heart (2007)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:181
Fresh:139
Rotten:42
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: Angelina Jolie conveys the full emotional range of a woman in a desperate situation in A Mighty Heart, an urgent yet tactful film about a difficult subject.
Theatrical Release:Jun 22, 2007 Wide
Box Office: $9,093,521
Synopsis: Prolific director Michael Winterbottom (24-HOUR PARTY PEOPLE) takes an unusual turn by helming A MIGHTY HEART--a studio picture starring none other than Angelina Jolie. Jolie stars as Mariane... Prolific director Michael Winterbottom (24-HOUR PARTY PEOPLE) takes an unusual turn by helming A MIGHTY HEART--a studio picture starring none other than Angelina Jolie. Jolie stars as Mariane Pearl, the widow of WALL STREET JOURNAL reporter Daniel Pearl. Daniel was kidnapped and executed in Pakistan in 2002, and Winterbottom's film centers on the frantic activities leading up to his death. Fellow journalist Mariane revs into action as soon as the disappearance of her husband is announced, calling on the FBI and experts in terrorism to help in the desperate search. With the media circling around the story like hawks, Mariane endures a very public display of grief, and her plight is perfectly captured by the unlikely alliance of Winterbottom and Jolie. The film was shot mostly in Karachi and uses locations that Daniel was known to have visited, adding a heady dose of authenticity to the proceedings. Winterbottom uses shaky, hand-held cameras, which add to the feeling of chaos as multiple organizations descend on Pakistan in the quest to find Daniel; fortunately the director uses some much-needed on-screen captions to make sure viewers are up to speed on who everyone is. A MIGHTY HEART is tough, emotional viewing that will be challenging (yet rewarding) for many audiences, even those who are already familiar with this heartbreaking story. [More]
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Irrfan Khan, Archie Panjabi
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Irrfan Khan, Archie Panjabi, Will Patton, Denis O'Hare
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Screenwriter: John Orloff
Producer: Brad Pitt, Andrew Eaton, Dede Gardner
Composer: Harry Escott, Molly Nyman
Studio: Paramount Vantage
Get This Movie
Reviews for A Mighty Heart
The sheer force of the story, fueled by the commitment and passion of Winterbottom and his cast, counts for a lot. And in a season of superheroes, sequels and special effects, a smart movie for smart people is always welcome.
Doesn't quite know what it wants to be, which means that it ultimately winds up being not very much at all.
Both benefits and suffers from Jolie, who delivers a quality performance while her mega-star wattage shifts the focus from the front page to the gossip page.
A story that, in the hands of a lesser talent, would have been a CBS Movie of the Week
Jolie is a force here, though Winterbottom manages to keep her contained within his picture's documentary style.
Riveting for every second, A Mighty Heart is the most commercial film that director Michael Winterbottom has made in the ’00s, but it’s just as uncompromising as The Road to Guantanamo.
A docudramatic TV movie at heart, and there's something unseemly about the film's inherently predictable build to Pearl's climactic grief.
A fine summertime distraction for discerning older audiences, even if it doesn't quite pack the punch of similar titles like Missing and Under Fire.
The elliptical narrative also recalls Fernando Meirelles' somewhat similarly themed The Constant Gardener, a film ultimately more heartfelt and accessible to mainstream audiences because its maker is unafraid of grief and explores it more deeply.
For a big chunk in the middle it feels like a standard crime drama -- though it's a strikingly crafted and stirring one.
[L]ike a stinging slap in the face.... there's a kind of culture-shockiness to it...
Typical of director Michael Winterbottom's integrity, a fast-paced and compassionate look at all the complicated forces surrounding the attempt to rescue kidnapped reporter Danny Pearl in Pakistan in 2002
Jolie lets us understand Mariane, and Winterbottom's film puts the viewer in her shoes.
Wildly inconsistent and sometimes infuriating director Winterbottom takes the Daniel Pearl story and turns it into a slog through complex and confusing Middle East politics.
Timely and morally complicated, it captures the desperation and intensity of the tragic five-week manhunt for Daniel Pearl.
Given the pitfalls the director's achievement is considerable...makes its point without falling into the Stanley Kramer trap of becoming obvious and smugly didactic about it.
All too often, the point of the story collapses under the weight of [director Winterbottom's] political priorities. He’s a prolific Don Quixote, committed to tilting cinematic windmills, but he goes about the job clumsily.
Latest News for A Mighty Heart
January 29, 2009:
Screenwriter Set for Ian Fleming Biopic ![]()
"Fleming," the Ian Fleming biopic being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way, has itself a writer: John Orloff, who penned "A Mighty Heart." More...
September 30, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
More...
December 21, 2007:
Awards Mania: Spirits, SAGs Get Waivers, Announce Nominations; Uncertainty Surrounds Golden Globes
Just when you think awards season can't get any awards-ier, here come two more sets of nominations! More...
December 14, 2007:
Atonement, Control Lead London Film Critics Noms
The London Critics Circle has announced the nominees for its year-end awards, with Anton Corbijn's Control and Joe Wright's Atonement leading the pack at eight nominations apiece. More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- A Mighty Heart at Rotten Tomatoes
- A Mighty Heart at IGN
Fresh Links
Featured

MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.

TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic


