Delivering an excellent performance doesn’t save this view into the cells at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Detention Center. The sympathetic story of long held dissidents tied into 9/11 has no basis for truth giving the premise a cold shoulder. The insubordination depicted in Camp X-Ray without consequences makes it even more bizarre. That said, if you look at the content as pure fiction without provocation, then those who like a good drama may find the acting by Kristen Stewart and Peyman Maadi extremely good.
At the center of the story, we find U.S. Army Private First Class Amy Cole (Kristen Stewart) arriving at Guantanamo, her first assignment outside of mainland USA. She’s eager to serve and gets assigned to one of the most thankless jobs, watching hostile jihadist detainees in their cells. Every three minutes Cole makes one round looking into the cells to alert any suspicious behavior including an attempt at suicide. The soldiers on the detail have no psychological training, they are there as a prevention measure only. They are also sworn not to give their name or chat with the detainees beyond answering ordinary questions regarding their health.
Her direct leader of Cell Block B is Corporal Ramsdell (Land Garrison), a womanizer and a sexist. Dealing with him has been an ordeal, but she wants to show that her ability is as good as any man. As days pass however, she starts getting close to detainee Ali Amir (Peyman Maadi) and becomes sympathetic to his detention at Guantanamo.
Director Peter Sattler spins his tale moving it along at a nice pace. He introduces his characters then interlaces them with their duties at the base. Concentrating on Cole he shows her tenacity, misplaced compassion and determination to fill the role she has been assigned. He then exposes her noncompliance to the rules as she becomes sucked in to Amir’s persistence of being held without reason. However, the openly compassionate Sattler presents his material asking his audience to accept that America may be holding detainees without reason, and for that his film’s not convincing and gripping.
The acting by Kristen Stewart doesn’t really show any range beyond her usual sedate personality. But, her performance is perfect for the role of the military woman who has to show strength and perseverance. Cole has spent her whole life in the USA and she’s like a bird freed from a cage in her first offshore assignment. Stewart is at her best however, when dealing with one of the most cagey detainees. As Ali Amir, the bold and mesmerizing Peyman Maadi gives her the stimulus to work her character. The film’s really an acting duo between the two and they pull that part of it off nicely.
BONUS FEATURE:
“Making of” Director/writer Peter Sattler leads the 12 minute feature talking about Guantanamo. It then moves on to Kristen Stewart who chats about her character and filming. Others chime in including Peyman Maadi who states that the film is about humanity and not who’s good or bad.
Camp X-Ray has been rated R by the MPAA for brief images of nudity in a magazine and rude language.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The acting’s good, but the story lacks credibility. (C-)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Peyman Maadi, John Carroll Lynch, Lane Garrison, Cory Michael Smith, Joseph Julian Soria, Ser’Darius Blain, Julia Duffy
Director: Peter Sattler
MPAA Rating: R for language and brief nude images
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 1 hr. 57 min
Original Theatrical Release Date: October 17, 2014
Video Release Date: June 2, 2015
Language: English, Aribic
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Audio: DTS-HD 5.1
Video: Widescreen TV, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: IFC Films
