West & East: A View from the Opposite Side of the Islands
Book
With the rendering of first-hand information from extraordinary historians in the East who are...
Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators
Book
What's it like to be the son or daughter of a dictator? A monster on the Stalin level? What's it...
Erika (17788 KP) rated Profile (2018) in Movies
Aug 8, 2021
In Profile, the journalist is English and called Amy. She’s portrayed as pretty desperate in general, and this story is her chance to become a fulltime employee at a random, unnamed news outlet. Her recruiter, Abu Bilal, reaches out to the false profile of ‘Melody’, almost immediately and starts chatting with her and sets up a Skype date. Now, the obvious happens, Amy gets wrapped up in this whole thing, and journalistically compromised by falling for this guy. I do have to admit, the actor they chose to play the recruiter/terrorist was incredibly attractive. I’m assuming this was done on purpose, to demonstrate how these guys convinced all these women to go over to Syria. Personally, I couldn’t believe anyone could buy what the recruiters were saying, but it happens all the time.
The tension was high and lasted until the very end, with a good pay-off. It kept me engaged mentally the entire time, which is rare for me. That’s when I know I truly like a film.
As I mentioned, the screen narrative style worked, I was constantly on edge, wondering if the ruse would be spoiled by someone walking behind her, or something like that. This film also took place in 2014, and I found it amusing that they thought to include the authentic, annoying lag that occurred a lot at that time.
A Disappearance in Damascus
Book
In the midst of an unfolding international crisis, renowned journalist Deborah Campbell finds...
Biography memoir social issues politics
Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security
Book
"I can’t imagine a more important book for our time." ―Sebastian Junger The world is blowing...
Politics
The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Book
'This is a novel of international significance. Courageous, provocative, haunting, it will open our...
War Syria Refugees
The Commander
Book
The definitive biography of the military leader who stood at the center of Arab politics for four...
The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left
Book
Ed Husain's The Islamist is the shocking inside story of British Islamic fundamentalism, told by a...
ISIS: A History
Book
The Islamic State has stunned the world with its savagery, destructiveness, and military and...
Shooting to Kill: The Ethics of Police and Military Use of Lethal Force
Book
Terrorism, the use of military force in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and the fatal police shootings...