13 Awesome Performances In Otherwise Disappointing 2021 Movies

Since The Mauritanian tells a very important true story, you'll be glad it was made but you'll also wish it had been better. The film is overall pedestrian and while it can be powerful, that's mainly because it tells a very upsetting true story, not because the writing or directing were very good.

Still, it is elevated by the cast - especially Tahar Rahim as the titular Guantanamo Bay detainee, Mohamedou Ould Salahi.

This was one hell of a challenging role but the gifted French actor, who's been going from strength to strength ever since his breakout role in 2009's A Prophet, does a superb job with the part.

He really disappears into the character and gives an absolutely heart-breaking performance that'll have every viewer entirely invested in Salahi's story - and it'll leave them feeling completely enraged about what happened to him too.

It was a relief that the film was shut out of the Oscars, but at the same time it's a shame Rahim wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars last year. He was the film's only Oscar-worthy element and it would've been a well-deserved nom, especially since he was honestly better than a couple of the other Best Supporting Actor nominees.