The Debt

Despite the name, “The Debt” contains everything needed for a solid espionage thriller with plot, acting and characters; the IRS won’t need to audit this film.

“The Debt” bounces back and forth from 1997 to 1966 and the flashbacks aren’t always triggered by seeing a familiar face or object the way most films do. This, however, does not distract from the flow of the film. It still makes sense and is easy to follow.

The plot also contains many twists and turns as secrets are unraveled even until the end of the film there are still surprises around the corner. The surprises help keep audiences in their seats wondering what will happen next.

“The Debt” follows the story of three Mossad agents Rachel (Jessica Chastain and Helen Mirren), David (Sam Worthington and Ciaran Hinds) and Stephan (Marton Csokas and Tom Wilkinson) during their mission in 1966 and the after effects in 1997.

In 1997 Rachel’s daughter Sarah writes a book on the exploits of her mother along with David and Stephan who are ordered to bring back the Dieter Vogel “the surgeon of Birkenau” (Jesper Christensen). However, when the mission took place back in 1966 there was a slight hiccup in their perfect plan leading to a cover up. As the years go by and the book releases each character has to deal with their secret, and if I told it to you I’d have to kill you.

The entire cast gives a solid performance and their characters are so diverse it adds an exciting mix to “The Debt”. Rachel is afraid and eager to finish the mission and she begins to have romantic feeling for her fellow missioner her character works due to Chastain’s performance. The older Rachel struggles with how the secret will affect her daughter as well as the remorse and anger for her actions. Mirren gives her character the right balance of emotion but not going over the top.

David wants justice. He doesn’t want Vogel to just die he wants him to stand trial so the world will know what he did, which makes him the most impatient to say, “mission accomplished.” He also has the strongest motivations for getting Vogel making him the most P.O.ed when the mission hits a bump. Worthington portrays David’s passion with sincerity. Just like Rachel older David is also remorseful and he still wants to make things right. Hinds also makes the older David look so sad in not only his depressing facial expressions but his lonely bachelor beard that tells the audience he’s given up on everything.

Stephan is perhaps the most complicated character it’s hard to tell exactly what his motivation is other than just doing another job. However, Stephan is definitely in charge and he doesn’t take no for an answer. Csokas gives his character a slightly humorous spark but he performs the seriousness of Stephan naturally as well. It’s older Stephan that has the drive that young Stephan did not. He does not want the truth to get out and will do anything to stop it from doing so. Stephan’s anxiousness is well-portrayed by Wilkinson.

Perhaps the most Oscar-worthy performance in “The Debt” goes to the villainous Vogel. In his capture Vogel picks his captors’ brains like a neurologist. He plays with their emotions appears sympathetic and friendly by talking about his wife or apologizing for the suffering he caused. Then he angers them by talking about how uncourageous and weak the Jews were. The two-faced villain not only messes with the characters minds but the audience as well by toying with the audience’s pity which Christensen does beautifully.

The one flaw in “The Debt” is the fact that the old and new characters look absolutely nothing alike… at all. Sure it can be difficult people grow old, fat and whatnot and it will never be perfect but it could be done better. The way it was done makes it difficult for audiences to believe that these are the same people, and confusing when you find out they are. Besides has no one ever heard of prosthetics? Or make-up?

Essentially, “The Debt” is a labyrinth of plot and secrets that keep audiences in their seats focused on the screen. It also contains phenomenal performances that are keeping it real. “The Debt” earns three out of five stars and you owe it to yourself to see it.