Hackford makes several subtle mistakes that undermine the film's potential. He never gives us a proper point of view; we spend too much time with Terry (on another assignment in Chechnya, in London, with his pals) and Peter (struggling to survive in grim conditions), leaving the story's real heart (Alice!) out in the cold. As a result, Ryan's performance is strong yet never gripping or particularly convincing, and the whole film feels unsatisfying. There's still plenty in here to recommend it though, starting with another superb role for Crowe, who brings his trademark balance of intelligence and muscle. The story is refreshingly free of cliches, examining honestly a complicated, difficult situation. And the film looks fantastic (I'm not just saying that because it was filmed in Ecuador, where I grew up). It has an authentic feel that makes up for the poor editing and a couple of dodgy plot points. Even the big climactic action set piece goes against expectations in a way that makes it startlingly believable. But the film itself could have been much more insightful and telling if it had stuck to a singular point of view.