THRILLER; MA, 1hr 47min

STARRING: Rachel Weisz, David Strathairn, Vanessa Redgrave

Initially, she’s only in it for the money. Having lost custody of her daughter, Nebraska policewoman Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) could use some cash, and a $100,000 tax-free contract with a private security firm that hires police at the behest of the US government to assist the United Nations in its peacekeeping operations sounds just the golden ticket. It’s 1999 and war-strafed Bosnia needs all the peacekeeping it can get. While grappling with the anarchic disarray, Kathy discovers evidence of a sex-trafficking ring preying on young girls that no-one in authority seems to want to know about. With good reason: its clients include men who work not only for the contractor that employs her but also for the UN.

Crusaders who rattle cages had better be prepared for the beasts they unleash. Ploddingly related with procedural zeal by director (and co-writer) Larysa Kondracki, this fact-inspired story is inevitably messy and depressing. Kathy comes across as a strong and honourable woman, and an impassioned Weisz is patently feeling it. Yet for such inflammatory material, The Whistleblower has all the belly fire of a Tax Office audit.

Andiee's Rating: **½