20 Best Movies Of 2021 (So Far)
12. The Mauritanian
Though it didn't quite live up to all the pre-release awards hype, Kevin Macdonald's (The Last King of Scotland) new legal drama The Mauritanian was nothing if not an exemplary acting showcase for Jodie Foster and Tahar Rahim.
Rahim is astoundingly in his portrayal of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man who was held in Guantanamo Bay for 14 years without charge for alleged terrorism offences.
As his hotshot, no-bulls**t lawyer Nancy Hollander, Foster is almost equally terrific, mining the righteous outrage of Slahi's case for every dramatic drop it's worth.
Much like The Courier, The Mauritanian is a laudably pared-down drama which doesn't feel the need to constantly ham-up the true story, deciding instead to paint a compelling picture of Slahi as a man who stood firm against horrifying indignity.