Jack Goes Confidential: ‘THE DEBT’ Has Unexpected Payoff

There’s been any number of memorable Nazi hunter thrillers over the years…

MARATHON MAN and THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL are the standouts.

Now add THE DEBT to that genre’s lineup, which builds its action and intrigue across two different periods of time.

The storyline here begins in a 1997 Tel Aviv setting focusing on three Mossad agents. Agents who back in the 60’s flushed out a Dr. Mengele-like Nazi butcher who practiced his horrific trade in Hitler’s old concentration camps.

Yeap, the secret agents nailed him, alright.

Trouble is, they pulled it off in 1966 during the Cold War in of all places, East Berlin. Smuggling him (as well as themselves) into West Berlin back then entailed major complications. Not to mention an uncomfortable sexual triangle.

Fast forward to 1997 where now retired agent Helen Mirren‘s daughter has written a book about those exploits in the 60’s—along the way uncovering disturbing revelations and a major betrayal in their midst.

Whereas THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL and MARATHON MAN were of superior manifistation, THE DEBT by comparison never quite achieves that level of drama and intensity.

That’s not to say that it’s a cheater – it’s definitely not!

But it sure won’t stay with you the way the two aforementioned, classic thrillers did.

Helen Mirren leads the cast as retired agent Rachel in 1997 while Jessica Chastain portrays her during her active times in the 60’s. Also in the circle are Tom Wilkinson, Sam Worthington, Morton Csokas and Jesper Christensen.

THE DEBT revealing 3 out of 5 espionage-drenched fingers.
 

Catch JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday’s on NewsRadio KMBZ Am & Fm / 99.7-THE POINT / and 1160-RADIO BACH. And anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.