Rarely do Oscar worthy films come out in August, but it’s not without precedent. Two years ago, Meryl Streep grabbed her 16th Oscar nomination for Julie & Julia that month and this year several films aim to replicate that success. Out at the end of the month is the thriller The Debt with Oscar winner Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life) and Sam Worthington (Avatar), and August 8th, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the award-winning novel The Help hits theatres. This one stars Oscar winner Sissy Spacek, Oscar nominee Viola Davis, Emmy winner Allison Janney, Chastain (again), Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer and Golden Globe nominee Emma Stone and has awards written all over it… However, there is one small film opening on August 5th that deserves serious Oscar attention, The Whistleblower. This dark, compelling, and exceptionally done political thriller details the true story of Kathryn Bolkovac (played by Oscar winner Rachel Weisz) who served as a peacekeeper in post war Bosnia in the 90′s and worked to uncover a massive sex trafficking scandal. She fought different law enforcement officials from multiple countries, U.N. dignitaries, political policies and corrupt people of all stripes to bring these horrible crimes to light, and the film captures her struggle with unflinching integrity and honesty. It’s a disturbing picture to watch at times, but an important one that is wonderfully realized by first time writer/director Larysa Kondracki. It features an Award-worthy performance by Weisz who is given ample exemplary support by Moncia Belluci, Oscar nominee David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck), Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave (Julia) and a brilliant international cast. I highly recommend the film which I saw earlier this week. Check it out next week in Los Angeles and New York with other cities opening throughout the month, and hopefully Academy members will remember the film at the end of the year especially for Picture, Screenplay and Actress (Weisz). For more on the film (which I give an “A” grade to), head here and watch the trailer below.
The Whistleblower
Tags: Bryce Dallas Howard, David Strathairn, Emma Stone, Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain, Julie & Julia, Kathryn Bolkovac, Larysa Kondracki, Meryl Streep, Monica Belluci, Octavia Spencer, Sam Worthington, Sissy Spacek, The Debt, The Help, The Whistleblower, Vanessa Redgrave, Viola Davis
