The Last Face

Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem play relief workers in Africa whose blossoming passion is torn apart by the horrors that surround them. Directed by Sean Penn, a star known for having an opinion or two about global issues, this drama seems more like a statement than a story. The characters are basically vessels in which to act out a debate about the West's attitude toward war-torn countries, a tone that feels forced and becomes exhausting. Each slogan-like speech is also met with meditative shots of landscapes or villages, that looks pretty but adds nothing artistically. Bardem and Theron are terrific actors, and as such some scenes have an impact through the passion of their delivery. Once you get past the screams and tears, however, even they can't dress up the self-righteous moralising. As true as some of the sentiment may be, The Last Face is two hours of navel-gazing that talks a lot but says very little.