I recall that when this film came out, there was considerable discussion regarding reports of the CIA employing rendition methods, and I initially believed it could have served as an important commentary on a U.S. government that often seemed to operate without accountability, particularly for individuals not from Western countries. This is precisely what occurs to Egyptian-born engineer “Anwar” (Omar Metwally), who is traveling back to his wife (Reese Witherspoon) in the United States when he’s redirected at the behest of “Whitman” (Meryl Streep) to a disturbing location where he's deprived of his clothing and self-respect, then interrogated about a recent bombing—all while being observed by “Freeman” (Jake Gyllenhaal), who appears conflicted between his dedication to his nation and his own moral compass. Simultaneously, as one could anticipate, the captive man’s wife becomes concerned and brings her worries to her senator (Alan Arkin) through his assistant "Smith" (Peter Sarsgaard), but they appear more focused on how their actions will be perceived by the public than on locating this missing individual. Naturally, there's a slim possibility that “Anwar” possesses some information, but it’s about as likely as the source of the Amazon River, and the central question swiftly shifts to the political maneuvering among all parties involved, with little consideration for the man portrayed convincingly by Metwally, who stands out as the most believable performer. To its credit, this film starts off quite well, highlighting how unchecked authority can undermine any notion of democratic control; however, Gyllenhaal doesn’t deliver his best performance, and Witherspoon feels similarly restrained, seeming unsure about her approach to portraying the frightened, expectant wife. The ending feels hurried, but it does illustrate just how deceptive and calculating people can be when there are rules both legally binding and otherwise—it's disappointing that this aspect wasn't examined in greater depth.

Source on TMDB