Unthinkable

"Right and Wrong no longer exist"

2010 1h 37m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

⭐

IMDB

★6.8TMDB · 1,535★7IMDB · 98,635

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The government gets wind of a plot to destroy America involving a trio of nuclear weapons for which the whereabouts are unknown. It's up to a seasoned interrogator and an FBI agent to find out exactly where the nukes are.

“Right and Wrong no longer exist”

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Cast

Samuel L. Jackson
Henry Harold 'H' Humphries
Carrie-Anne Moss
Agent Helen Brody
Michael Sheen
Steven Arthur Younger
Stephen Root
Charles Thompson
Lora Kojovic
Rina Humphries
Martin Donovan
Jack Saunders
Gil Bellows
Agent Vincent
Vincent Laresca
Agent Leandro

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gregor Jordan
Writers: Peter Woodward
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 16 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gregor Jordan, shot by Oliver Stapleton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Graeme Revell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Scott Chestnut shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Samuel L. Jackson and Carrie-Anne Moss and Michael Sheen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Right and Wrong no longer exist".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0914863 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gregor Jordan directs. Oliver Stapleton behind the camera. Graeme Revell scores. Scott Chestnut cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 16 years ago.
2Directed by Gregor Jordan, shot by Oliver Stapleton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Graeme Revell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Scott Chestnut shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Samuel L. Jackson and Carrie-Anne Moss and Michael Sheen carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Right and Wrong no longer exist".
7IMDB entry: tt0914863 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 14 themes, including "bomb", "nuclear bomb", "psychological thriller", "videotape".

The technical file

Cinematography: Oliver Stapleton
Original score: Graeme Revell
Editing: Scott Chestnut
Production design: Steven Jones-Evans
Costume design: Danielle Hollowell
Makeup / hair: Allan A. Apone
Sound: Jonathan Wales
Stunt coordinator: Charles Croughwell
Runtime: 97 min · 1h 37m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $15,000,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Unthinkable (2010)
IMDB rating: 7/10 · 98,635 votes
MPAA: R

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Gregor Jordan

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Community reviews

What people are saying

DoryDarko2017-02-21
Unthinkable raises a question which has been an issue for many people all over the world for a very long time, and especially since 9/11. This question is, is it ever justified to torture an individual to save the lives of many? And if the answer is yes, how far can you go? This issue is indeed a very sensitive subject and I think it takes guts for any filmmaker to put it out there in the open like Gregor Jordan did. Add to that the clever fact that he doesn't actually make a choice, but rather lets the audience decide on whatever they want to think and feel, and you have a pretty gutsy and controversial concept. In a nutshell, this film is about a man of American descent who has become a Muslim and has now, as an act of terrorism, planted 3 nuclear bombs in 3 major American cities which will go off in four days. Screenwriter Peter Woodward made some very tactical decisions considering the characters in the story. They are all somewhat stereotypical, but this is no bother because they're all there for a reason. Carrie-Anne Moss, as an FBI investigator, represents the conscience, the sensitivity and the struggle to make the right decision. Samuel L. Jackson is her polar opposite; the brutal, rational, stone cold "interrogator" who does what he does because he's the only one who can and willing to do it. The means he is willing to go to in order to get his subject to talk are almost as unwatchable as they are unthinkable. This is quite possibly the most gruesome film I have ever seen, but that mostly has to do with the fact that the things you see are in fact very real. This stuff does happen, and it's way harder to stomach than any slasher horror movie because it sucks you in emotionally. Intelligence agencies and secret services the world over DO use these techniques, whether we like to believe it or not. All of this sounds like a great opportunity to address a major issue and stimulate people to really think about it, doesn't it? One would like to think so, alas there is one big problem: bad writing. As hard as they try, the filmmakers do not, at any point, manage to evoke sympathy on either side of the fence. Not with the terrorist, for the complete lack of background and motivation, but neither with the people who try to stop him from executing his horrible plans that could claim the lives of millions of people. Especially Carrie-Anne Moss' character, Brody, is quite a pain in the butt because even though her struggle is understandable, quite simply because she's a decent human being, she comes off as kind of naive because she – from a professional point of view – is unwilling to sacrifice the life of one to save millions. Her constant interference gradually becomes increasingly annoying, up to the point that you just want her to get out of the way. However, Jackson's character H. turns out to be such a volatile psycho that you almost start to feel sorry for the terrorist! There is one scene in particular which throws you off so badly that you really don't know what to think anymore. I'll only say that it involves the terrorist's wife, and as much as I would like to warn you, I don't want to give any spoilers, but you can take it as a warning anyway... It'll make your skin crawl. The rest of the characters are about as lively and relevant as cardboard-cut-outs, I've already forgotten about most of them, but they don't really matter to the story anyway. However, all of this could have still turned into a decent film, if it wasn't for one major flaw: the horrible ending. It's so incredibly hollow and unsatisfactory that it leaves you wondering why the hell you just spent an hour and a half watching a man being tortured, if there was absolutely no point to it?! It could have been worthwhile if only the filmmakers had any resolve to offer, but there is none. Why did the terrorist do what he did? We don't know. Did the agents accomplish anything? Not really. So what's the point? There is no point. It's just 90 minutes of torture, bad decisions and failure. That's it. Overall, it's not all bad. There is some really good dialogue and despite aforementioned flaws and inconsistencies in the script, there are a few really good scenes which do involve one into the minds of the people on screen. The actors do the best they can with what they're given, Samuel L. Jackson is as reliable as ever and Carrie-Anne Moss is convincing in her role, which makes me sad to think that since The Matrix and Memento, she hasn't really had any memorable roles, and that's too bad because she is a good actress. Michael Sheen as the terrorist is good too, though it's hard for him to make his character a 3-dimensional human being because the writers offered him no history or character development whatsoever, but he definitely makes his character's "in-the-moment emotions" work from scene to scene. So, final conclusion. I wouldn't really dissuade anyone from watching this film, you now know what to expect and it does offer some interesting food for thought here and there, but you should really understand that this film is pretty challenging, mentally as much as physically. And don't watch this if you're under 18. Seriously. (November 2013)
RalphRahal2025-01-13
★ 7/10
Unthinkable is one of those movies that forces you to confront moral dilemmas head-on and leaves you questioning your own boundaries. It delivers a bold and unapologetic message that’s impossible to miss. While the plot centers around a high-stakes scenario involving a terrorist threat, the real tension comes from the ethical lines being blurred in the process of handling it. It’s not an easy movie to watch, but it’s definitely one that sticks with you. The first act sets the stage well, introducing the characters and pulling you into the gravity of the situation. Once the story transitions into the heart of the conflict, the tension ramps up significantly, and the movie almost throws out traditional storytelling to focus entirely on its message. Surprisingly, this works in its favor, creating an unpredictable and unsettling atmosphere. It’s intense, uncomfortable, and keeps you glued, even when it’s hard to watch. Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Sheen deliver standout performances. Jackson’s commanding and unrelenting presence contrasts perfectly with Sheen’s calculated and chilling portrayal, creating a dynamic that drives the story forward. The production supports the narrative effectively, with its cold, clinical setting amplifying the tension. Even the camerawork, especially the subtle shifts between perspectives, adds to the unease. That said, the movie isn’t without flaws. It misses an opportunity to dive deeper into the emotional and psychological effects on everyone involved, which could have added more layers to its themes. And there’s one moment near the end involving a technical detail that feels out of place and undercuts the grounded realism. But despite these missteps, Unthinkable succeeds in delivering a tense and thought-provoking experience. If you’re into movies that challenge your sense of right and wrong, this one is worth a watch.

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