Some films amply repay watching – though, ironically, they tend to remind viewers of problems, rather than to take them to an escapist fantasy many may naturally crave nowadays. The movie Worth, available on Netflix, focusing on lawyer Ken Feinberg (brilliantly portrayed by Michael Keaton), on whose memoir the film is based, recounts his efforts to determine the federal compensation that should be given to families of those who were killed in the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers.
As the title implies, the daunting challenge he and his team faced was to answer the question “How much is a life worth?” Should a janitor be treated equally to a highly paid executive? What special family circumstances should or could be considered? As the film progresses and the lawyers attempt to divide up the money in a way that is acceptable to the claimants, one becomes aware of the complex difficulties involved.
Without villains (other than the hijackers), the film is often moving in its revelations, challenging as it delves into the problems raised, and above all truly involving even as it reminds us of a horrendous event and its tragic consequences.
Incidentally and coincidentally, available on Prime Video, Official Secrets from a couple of years ago is equally challenging and worthy of viewing. Based on the story of Katherine Gun (featuring another star performance by Keira Knightley), it tells how a woman risked everything when she discovered in her work as a translator for the British intelligence services that the British government was lying to the people about the realities of the Saddam Hussein government in Iraq. Knowing that treason is punishable by imprisonment or death, she decided to betray her oath and to make public a sensitive document. This film too raises real issues and poses real questions in dramatic and compelling fashion.
One might also turn to The Courier, also available on Prime Video. This is essentially a spy thriller, though definitely not of the glamorous, action-packed James Bond variety. Yet another film based on real-life events, it shows how an unassuming British businessman (Benedict Cumberbatch, brilliant as usual) is persuaded to become a courier, bringing back sensitive documents from Khrushchev’s Russia, in particular at the time leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis. As the story unfolds, the film is yet another uncomfortable reminder of world-wide political tensions – hardly escapist drama, but certainly superbly told.
What is common to all three movies is that they show how the decent and honourable actions of private individuals can have a positive impact on the world. Yes, they all deal with major issues at a time when we may wish to escape, but each is superbly directed and includes stellar performances by the leading actors and their supporting ensemble casts. They may not cheer up viewers, but they certainly provide grounds for reflection and discussion.
As we too ponder the crises with which we are faced and are called upon, each in our own way, to seek and to contribute to the solutions, these films provide superb examples of heroic individuals who did just that. We may be relatively unimportant, but we can be part of the solution.
Finally, a word of caution: avoid mindless repetitive violence by picking The Courier carefully from among identically titled films on Netflix.
