Though I'm quite familiar with the water wars, as they're called, in South America, I still wanted to see how the likes of Andy Garcia and Forest Whitaker would fair in this Canadian production. The director Damian Lee, who also co-wrote the script, is not a newcomer, but has yet to deliver a film I'd rate above five(out of 10); this one will rate a six from me, because I liked the subject matter and actors Garcia and Whitaker. I'll give Damian Lee credit for the overall results, delivers some action and covers all the basis, but it doesn't quite shine. Then again it did not have a big budget, I'm sure and was not marketed to a very wide audience.
The part where Morgan Swinton, played by Deborah Kara Unger, witnesses a suicide protest of a water war victim (lost his whole family) who blew his brain out a few feet from her should have startled me but didn't. That character is supposed to be so moved by what she saw that she turns against the company she and her brother control; the brother Bruce Swinton, played rather well by veteran actor Kim Coates, has to make cruel decisions and does. Those parts of the plot were not as convincing as I hoped they'd be.
Andy Garcia plays Jack Begosian, a retired CIA operative riddled with guilt; he satisfactorily depicts that and of course he's the hero. I did like the sub-plot dealing with his family, wife and son. Forest Whitaker and Eva Longoria had interesting roles but the action wife Mia Francis, played by Longoria seemed quite far fetched, given there wasn't much background explaining where she got her skills, just those of Whitaker's character Francisco Francis.
The evil police and military, partnered with the big corporation vs the poor peasants of Ecuador (the real events happened in Chile and Bolivia) are the part of the plot most believable because they are based on real events. I highly recommend you read about Water Wars and watch the documentaries Blue Gold and Flow to get an appreciation of the water wars that have occurred and that will again. If you're not into that sort of thing, a compromise may be this film, but try to get it on cable or Netflix or something if you can; it would be okay as well if your local DVD store (any left?) has it on special for rental at .99cents.
The part where Morgan Swinton, played by Deborah Kara Unger, witnesses a suicide protest of a water war victim (lost his whole family) who blew his brain out a few feet from her should have startled me but didn't. That character is supposed to be so moved by what she saw that she turns against the company she and her brother control; the brother Bruce Swinton, played rather well by veteran actor Kim Coates, has to make cruel decisions and does. Those parts of the plot were not as convincing as I hoped they'd be.
Andy Garcia plays Jack Begosian, a retired CIA operative riddled with guilt; he satisfactorily depicts that and of course he's the hero. I did like the sub-plot dealing with his family, wife and son. Forest Whitaker and Eva Longoria had interesting roles but the action wife Mia Francis, played by Longoria seemed quite far fetched, given there wasn't much background explaining where she got her skills, just those of Whitaker's character Francisco Francis.
The evil police and military, partnered with the big corporation vs the poor peasants of Ecuador (the real events happened in Chile and Bolivia) are the part of the plot most believable because they are based on real events. I highly recommend you read about Water Wars and watch the documentaries Blue Gold and Flow to get an appreciation of the water wars that have occurred and that will again. If you're not into that sort of thing, a compromise may be this film, but try to get it on cable or Netflix or something if you can; it would be okay as well if your local DVD store (any left?) has it on special for rental at .99cents.