Proof of Life

2000

Proof of Life

Critics Consensus

Despite its promising premise and superstar cast, Proof of Life is just a routine thriller that doesn't offer anything new.

39%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 117

43%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 47,145

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Movie Info

A woman whose marriage is in trouble finds herself falling for a new man as her husband's life hangs in the balance in this thriller. Peter Bowman (David Morse) and his wife Alice (Meg Ryan) have relocated to a small Latin American nation called Tecala; Peter works for an American engineering and construction firm, and his latest assignment has him building a dam that is intended to bring power to the developing nation. The ELT is a radical Marxist faction gearing up for political revolution in Tecala that has turned to kidnapping as a way to raise capital, and Peter is chosen as its next target. When Peter is ambushed on his way to work, his firm brings in Terry Thorn (Russell Crowe), a former Australian intelligence operative who now works as a private "kidnapping and ransom" negotiator. Alice is told Terry is her best hope for bringing Peter back safe and sound, but when Terry's employers run into a tight squeeze financially, they cancel their K&R insurance (which is considered a standard benefit for American employees assigned to South America), leaving Alice to rehire Terry on her own, especially since she can't possibly pay the $3 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers. As Terry and his partner Dino (David Caruso) map out a rescue plan, Alice and Terry find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. Alice's marriage to Peter was going through a rough patch when he was kidnapped, and while she's deeply concerned for his safety, she must reconcile her fears for Peter's life with her new feelings for Terry. Proof of Life is based on Adventures in the Ransom Trade, an article by journalist William Prochnau that was published in Vanity Fair, as well as on the case of real-life kidnapping victim Tom Hargrove. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Meg Ryan
as Alice
Russell Crowe
as Terry
David Morse
as Peter
David Caruso
as Dino
Pamela Reed
as Janice
Michael Kitchen
as Ian
Anthony Heald
as Ted
Stanley Anderson
as Jerry
Gottfried John
as Kessler
Alun Armstrong
as Wyatt
Margo Martindale
as Ivy
Mario Ernesto Sánchez
as Fernandez
Pietro Sibille
as Juaco
Vicky Hernandez
as Maria
Vicky Hernandez
as Maria
Norma Martinez
as Norma
Diego Trujillo
as Eliodoro
Aristoteles Picho
as Sandro
Sarahi Echeverria
as Cinta
Carlos Blanchard
as Carlos
Raúl Rodríguez Peila
as Tomas
Mauro Cueva
as Rico
Alejandro Cordova
as Rambo
Sandro Bellido
as Mono
Miguel Iza
as ELT Officer
Roberto Frisone
as Calitri
Tony Vasquez
as Fred/Marco
Claudia Dammert
as Ginger
Rowena King
as Pamela
Michael Byrne
as Luthan
Jaime Zevallos
as Nino
Gilberto Torres
as Raymo
Flora Martinez
as Linda
Laura Escobar
as Cara
Marcos Bustos
as Alex
Jorge Medina
as Berto
Gerard Naprous
as Pierre Lenoir
Alexander Balueyev
as Russian Colonel
Dimitri Shevchenko
as Russian Sergeant
Zbigniew Zamachowski
as Terry's Driver
Said K. Saralijen
as Chechen Leader
Oscar Carrillo
as Trial Honcho
Pedro Martinez Laya
as Trial Honcho
Wolframio Benavides
as Trial Honcho
Alonso Alegria
as Master of Ceremonies
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison
as Terry's Son
Stefan Gryff
as Bank Official
Yolanda Vazquez
as Notary
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Critic Reviews for Proof of Life

All Critics (117) | Top Critics (33)

View All Critic Reviews (117)

Audience Reviews for Proof of Life

  • May 26, 2010
    It is what it is. You really cant blame this movie on Russell Crowe or Meg Ryan, but the atrocious screen writer and the studio that allowed this to be made.
    Nelson P Super Reviewer
  • Sep 04, 2009
    After Gladiator this is the second film of Crowe that I saw and it was real a disaster for him. Nothing to do with his periformans in previous Film.
    Arianeta L Super Reviewer
  • Jun 17, 2009
    I liked this one. It was a realistic action movie. Intense and heartfelt.
    Dannielle A Super Reviewer
  • Mar 07, 2009
    A very fine movie with a quite serious role for Meg Ryan (review to be continued) Great acting performance by Russell Crowe (Gladiator, LA Confidential)
    Teresa S Super Reviewer
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