It’s remarkable how far Tahar Rahim and Kevin MacDonald have progressed since their initial project together, "the Eagle" (2011). This film focuses on Mohammed Ould Slahi, portrayed by Rahim, who is held without charges by the United States government at Guantánamo Bay. His situation draws the attention of lawyer Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster), and alongside her colleague Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley), she vigorousl…

The performances, notably from Rahim, are what truly make ‘The Mauritanian’ impactful, and the fact that it's based on actual events adds to its intensity; it turns out to be better than anticipated, though some refinement of the complete presentation would have been welcome. 9/10

Drawing from Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s New York Times bestselling memoir “Guantánamo Diary,” “The Mauritanian” recounts the real-life story of a man who endured fourteen years of imprisonment at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility without formal charges. The film adheres to conventions of the legal drama genre, prioritizing the central figure and his circumstances over an examination of the abuses inflicted upon him. …

I often find myself enjoying movies inspired by true stories, as they usually manage to teach me something about an event or topic I wasn’t previously familiar with. The real story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi was new to me before seeing The Mauritanian, and the film does a good job of portraying his shocking, unbelievable experiences at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. It's still hard to believe that this prison outsid…