The Mauritanian

THE GIST: Rounded up along with hundreds of other suspects after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, a Mauritanian man is held captive in Guantanamo Bay by the US government without charges for years, until a civil rights lawyer decides to take up the case, regardless of his alleged guilt, because his unlimited confinement violates the US Constitution.

The Mauritanian poses some tough questions about the law, the protections it affords, and the methods of detention and interrogation applied after the worst terrorist attack on US soil shook the nation to its foundations.

The excellent cast is led by the always great Jodie Foster, along with Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Tahar Rahim in the role of the Mauritanian. The latter was unknown to me before, but is really good indeed.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A well-acted, well-written drama about a problem that is sadly still ongoing after 20 years.

Grade: 7.5