First of all let me quickly describe my own movie rating system...
A - Awesome. I want to watch it again, immediately!
B - Pretty good. I'll definitely want to watch it again, later.
C - Okay. If I'm bored someday and it's available I'd watch it again.
D - I consider my time wasted.
F - I either walked out, turned of the player or am kicking myself for not doing so.
I give Infidel a B-.
The story is interesting, mostly plausible and has an acceptable balance between the conflict and the resolution. Jim Caviezal is dependably good in anything he's in. While his character, Doug's behavior is a bit questionable in dealing with other faiths, since he's not actually a Christian leader, but a Christian blogger, that part is reasonable. (I doubt many Christian leaders would have been that blunt on a Moslem TV show, since they'd know it wouldn't be accepted very well). I like that they included Moslems assisting his wife as she tried to get him released. It showed that the problem is not just a religious squabble but actually a political problem where religion is being used as an excuse for political abuse.
I did have a problem with several plot elements left hanging with no resolution. And the character development could have been done better.
SPOILERS....
It's established that Doug's wife Liz (Claudia Karvan) was having a crisis of faith (this was only revealed after she'd used several profanities which was bad timing, making it sound as if Christians normally use language like that). But the movie ended with nothing else being revealed about her loss of faith in God. Did she still blame God, or did she resolve the conflict?
Doug also used profanities, including the F-word, but given the context, they were placed during moments of severe crisis, which hopefully people will understand as weakness, not acceptable behavior.
The character of Ramzi (Hal Ozsan) murders his own daughter, yet the only "punishment" or consequences he ever receives is a punch in the face. That was unresolved conflict which takes away from the ultimate enjoyment of the story.
I give Infidel a B-.
The story is interesting, mostly plausible and has an acceptable balance between the conflict and the resolution. Jim Caviezal is dependably good in anything he's in. While his character, Doug's behavior is a bit questionable in dealing with other faiths, since he's not actually a Christian leader, but a Christian blogger, that part is reasonable. (I doubt many Christian leaders would have been that blunt on a Moslem TV show, since they'd know it wouldn't be accepted very well). I like that they included Moslems assisting his wife as she tried to get him released. It showed that the problem is not just a religious squabble but actually a political problem where religion is being used as an excuse for political abuse.
I did have a problem with several plot elements left hanging with no resolution. And the character development could have been done better.
SPOILERS....
It's established that Doug's wife Liz (Claudia Karvan) was having a crisis of faith (this was only revealed after she'd used several profanities which was bad timing, making it sound as if Christians normally use language like that). But the movie ended with nothing else being revealed about her loss of faith in God. Did she still blame God, or did she resolve the conflict?
Doug also used profanities, including the F-word, but given the context, they were placed during moments of severe crisis, which hopefully people will understand as weakness, not acceptable behavior.
The character of Ramzi (Hal Ozsan) murders his own daughter, yet the only "punishment" or consequences he ever receives is a punch in the face. That was unresolved conflict which takes away from the ultimate enjoyment of the story.