Strip Search

Trailer—Strip Search

Strip Search_720p(480P)

source: Strip Search

The format, writing and direction of this docudrama could be improved, but the premise is too important to ignore. Two people, in opposite parts of the world, seem cavalier about their rights and freedoms, until they are violated, then dumbfounded about what authorities do to them. We'd all like to feel safe in our home, community and Country. However, to what extent would we give up our rights and freedoms, to be more secure and safe? And... If our rights and freedoms are lost, how safe and secure would we be? You may find this film boring. It lacks gratuitous violence, obscenity and other things, one might proclaim, makes for entertainment, but the valuable message it portrays, makes it a, "Must See!". If this show peeks your interest, try a, "Star Trek", (The Next Generation), Episode called, "Drumhead", in which mankind has ventured hundreds of years, into the future, into space and evolution, yet still succumbs to fear, created by the potential for terrorism...

I just watched this film (on European television), but didn't see from the very beginning what it was called. So I looked it up here on IMDb. "Strip Search" is a terrible title. What were they thinking? That I think is an example of what is wrong with the film. They have a story with a very interesting political premise, but they gave it some crap title more appropriate for a straight-to-video Shannon Tweed flick. Well, it IS an interesting premise, that the U.S. domestic response to 9/11 has brought the country closer in some respects to the police states it still publicly condemns. It is a premise with which I strongly agree. And the plot vehicle of playing the same dialogue in a U.S. and a Chinese prison was a very good idea. But it is all really poorly done. The biggest problem is the dialogue itself, which is clichéd. It really could have used a few rewrites. Surprising that it came from Tom Fontana, of the great "Homicide: Life On the Streets" TV series. The other problem is that except for Glenn Close and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the other actors are unable to rise above the hack dialogue. Ken Leung I thought was particularly bad. And in movies, the ultimate blame for poor performances has to be laid at the feet of the director, in this case the legendary Sidney Lumet. (But let's face it, Lumet hasn't made a truly great film since 1976's "Network" (1976), and not even a good film since 1988's "Running On Empty.") With the exception of the acting of Close and Gyllenhaal, the whole film feels like a hack job. The political message is hammered home with all the subtlety of a German jazz band, complete with inter-cut speeches about freedom and democracy from U.S. presidents, and a fadeout with statistics about U.S. detainees. Sheesh. Too bad, this could have been a thought-provoking film. It's so poorly done and overwrought that it just won't change anyone's mind.

In the post 9/11 world, fear has been indoctrinated into most aspects of our lives. Governments worldwide manipulated and capitalized on this for their own gain - financially, politically and strategically. The Bush-driven Patriot Act has seen many people (guilty and otherwise no doubt) detained, tortured and dehumanized. Since a large percentage of the population are unaware that political agendas of media owners exist, they passively believe what they see on their nightly TV news or read in their daily newspapers. They are taught to fear the unknown, to trust their leaders implicitly (because they use nice words in speeches like 'freedom' and 'family') and not to question motives. 'Strip Search' is a deliberate attempt to throw the light of reality into this collective 'un'consciousness. The storyline involves parallel stories of two people being detained in custody: an American woman in China, and a Middle Eastern man in the US. By using almost exactly the same dialogue, we are shown how to think outside the usual spectrum, and to feel compassion for both people. Without the twin story of the American woman, people would undoubtedly walk away from this feel feeling a lot differently. The acting is astonishing. One feels that this film meant more than just another job to the actors involved. I admire them immensely for their efforts. Hopefully this film will change a few minds, and that as a result - the world might become just that little bit better.

At the outset, "Strip Search" ask the question: "If the United States could rid the world of terrorism forever, would you give up your rights as American citizens...for a day, a week, etc.?" (A better question would be, who wouldn't?) Americans are currently giving up their lives to accomplish a small piece of that objective, always have, and always will as do and have all peoples of the world throughout history. This pathetically patronizing and obviously didactic film then shows interleaved scenes of a male Chinese official doing a humiliating strip search of an American female and an American female doing the same to a male Arab in a failed attempt to illustrate the importance of personal freedom from...um, being groped. Unfortunately, the notion of being groped by Glenn Close just doesn't seem all that bad which didn't help drive home the central issue of liberty. On the other hand, the interrogation of Maggie Gyllenhaal was too polite for serious drama and seeing Maggie naked was more distracting than engrossing. "Strip Search" flies in the face of a panoply of films about people being stripped of their freedom, imprisoned, tortured, etc. making for a mediocre one hour watch which plays out like a simple minded High School civics lesson. (C)

This was quite possibly the BEST hour of television that I have ever seen. I give major kudos to HBO for not backing down on a sensitive topic and producing a fantastic show. I admit that some of the nudity was gratuitous, but I know that using it was trying to make the situations as realistic as possible. I'm a law school student, and I was horrified that people, in our country or in others, do not protest that they have some basic human and civil rights in interrogation settings. I don't usually watch HBO because I don't like the programming, but I am glad I tuned in to watch. Again, this was a great show that everyone should watch. Make more shows like this! Don't be afraid to touch on sensitive topics.

"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

Just saw this movie last night, and I was quite impressed. At my first opportunity, I did a Google search on it and found this page. Reading through the comments, I wonder how many of those who dismissed the movie and its premise as unadulterated propaganda (albeit prior to the Abu Ghraib scandal coverage) might reconsider given recent revelations of American behavior in violation of the Geneva Convention. Several such comments reflect a belief that the nudity in the film was there purely for titillation. However, in the aftermath of the prison misconduct in Iraq, its pretty clear that this stuff happens. The nudity in the movie hasn't a damned thing to do with desire. Rather the nudity illustrates the degree to which the state can and does dehumanize and terrorize (allusion intended) the individual, confident in its rationale that circumstances warrant such measures. Let me tell you, I find Maggie Gyllenhall crazy, raving hot, but all I felt while watching this movie was revulsion and a keen awareness of my own vulnerability were I in the maw of The State/System. "48 hours, 7 days, 6 months... as long as it takes...". Chilling, chilling stuff, definitely check it out.