Your Entertainment Ticket.net

BATTLE IN SEATTLE

Starring: Charliz Theron, Jennifer Carpenter, Martin Henderson, Woody Harrelson, Ray Liotta, Michelle Rodriguez, Channing Tatum, Joshua Jackson and Andre Benjamin

Directed By: Stuart Townsend

Rated R for language and some violence

By John Delia

Interesting, captivating and realistic, Battle in Seattle delivers a powerful message and some lessons to be learned. Directed with precision by Townsend, the docudrama reflects the reality of the true incident and comes off the screen delivering strong emotional content. Comprised of excellent cast performances enhancing the thrust of the film, the Battle in Seattle comes up a big winner.
In November of 1999 five days rocked the world as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Seattle in protest of the World Trade Organizations Ministerial Meeting. Among them are Django (Benjamin), Sam (Carpenter), Lou (Rodriguez) and Jay (Henderson). Each has a unique story, but they're united in a common desire to be heard and to make a difference in the world. For these four protesters, this is very personal and the stakes are higher than mere politics.
A peaceful demonstration to stop the WTO talks quickly escalates into a full-scale riot, and soon the Mayor of Seattle declares a State of Emergency. The streets are mayhem, and the WTO is paralyzed. Caught in the crossfire of civil liberties and keeping peace are Seattle residents, including its beleaguered mayor (Liotta), a riot cop on the streets (Harrelson) and his pregnant wife (Theron). The choices everyone involved make, will change their lives forever.
Mixed with real film footage of the actual riot, writer/director Townsend gave me the feeling that it was all in real time. Without the fine actors telling the stories of their characters that show different points of view on the protest however, the message that the film provides would not have been as powerful. Giving an outstanding portrayal as Seattle’s mayor Tim Tobin, Liotta steals the show. Under pressure from the state and national governments, Liotta shows two sides to his historic decision-making. Sympathetic with the protesters yet caught between big government and the World Trade Organization, the mayor found himself at odds with his decision-making.
In support, Theron gives a gut wrenching performance as a pregnant woman who gets accosted by the police, while Rodriguez makes a believable anti-WTO protester caught up in the heat of the full-scale riot. Add to this the aggressive cinematography that makes the film frightful and unsettling, and Battle in Seattle comes up a winner.
The film is rated R for frequent use of harsh language and riot violence.

FINAL ANALYSIS: If you like realistic docudramas with a message of protest, Battle in Seattle makes a huge statement. (3.5 of 5 stars)