Strip Search (2004)

Alright, you American sure thinks this is a provoking film and touchy subject, but what the hell? The movie sucks. I fast-forwarded a lot of times, because they said the same stupid things both the American and the man from Middle East(or whatever country he is coming from). The manuscript sucks, just full of half deep sentences that goes nowhere. The acting, except from Maggie Gyllenhaal and Bruno Lastra, sucks so bad that I felt like eating my brain instead of watching the same quotes rephrased by the same sucking actors. Oh my god how much I regret I watched this movie.Well, so I watched it. Everybody who has watched this know what it is all about(or else you are stupid), and are just waiting for what the hell is happening next? Oh, a strip search. OH MY GOD, so f****** unbelievable. So f****** what? They are breaking our rights, alright, I get it - GET ON. Tell me more. Don't use f****** two hours on telling me THAT. Jesus Christ.So, I fast-forwarded my way through a lot of the movie, because it was the same quotes over and over again. And then. Nothing. Seriously, nothing. It was nothing more. So instead of watching this movie, I recommend you to read this quote by Benjamin Franklin."The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either." There. You have just read the meaning of the movie in less than 20 seconds. Don't waste two hours(or one in the short version) by watching this movie.

I liked the overall message and theme of the movie. I am passionate about the topic of freedom vs. security. However, being the feminist that I am, I was turned off by many things. It irks me when more than half the movie they show Maggie Gyllenhaal nude, and only a brief glimpse of the other victim, a male. The reason is that two individuals, an American woman in some Asian country and a foreign male in America, are being held on aiding a terrorist. Glenn Close is interrogating the male, and some Asian male interrogating Maggie Gyllenhaal. Around 25 minutes in, (It is a 55 minute film) the victims are told to take off their clothes. As it always is with Hollywood films, Maggie Gyllenhaal is shown off a lot more imo.Also, during one scene that would horrify any female undergoing it, the officer makes her stand against a wall with her legs spread and palms flat against the wall. He feels up her breasts, and then he says some line like how he is "going to do it every day until it is like breathing. And the best part is, I didn't even have to touch you" Umm, except he definitely does so I do not get that part. Nevertheless, it was enough to make any girl squirm at the thought of some strange man doing that to you.Then it cuts to the scene were Glenn Close is interrogating the male victim. She looks over his neck, shoulders, back, and arms with a flashlight, and says the exact same line. In this case, it makes sense. She did not touch him. I found this scene to be pretty absurd and unrealistic. She would be feeling him up too and, of course, the movie does not show this. Who looks over someone with a flashlight? That is not all that terrifying, and I guess that is why he did not confess at the end, but Maggie Gyllenhaal did. Either way, personally I am tired of so much female nudity and the taboo about showing anything but a male behind in movies. They say it adds realism and a connection but I find it detracts from taking a film seriously. Imo, a good story that can entertain and keep the audience's attention without nudity is always a better-made film then one that must rely on it. Plus, there are better movies that take a look at the balance between security and individual liberties.

The movie is really a very very well made one with the parallels between two plots. It brings out the question-"is subjecting a foreigner to inhuman torture and trauma and humiliation right in one country and wrong in another country?" For protecting one's country and people against terrorism, if the police can do anything to the foriegners, then any other country has the same rights.I saw the movie on HBO and it was quite an eye opener on what can happen to a foriegner in some other country. The movie might have been an exaggeration, but then similar things have been reported in past.The best parts of the movie were the 3-4 clips in between of various us presidents talking about freedom and democracy provided by their nation to their own citizens and also to the world.

"Strip Search" attempts to show that the freedoms we take for granted can be taken away in the name of national security, and our government can turn into a police state the way N. Korea and China are.It uses two identical incidents with the same dialogue to drive this point home. But there are problems with the premise. First, what if the roles were reversed? I believe it is natural for us to have more compassion for a woman under interrogation, than a man. What if it were an American man being questioned in a Chinese prison, and a Muslim woman being questioned in America? Or better yet, make both of the suspects men so that the stories are indeed parallel. I believe the impact would not be as strong, which highlights how weak the story really is.Another minor beef is, for me the Chinese interrogator acts too Western in his manner and delivery.Good acting all around, especially from Maggie Gyllenhall.5 out of 10