They say truth is stranger than fiction. Well, sometimes it is simply more interesting, too. And that's one of the reasons I couldn't rate this film higher. It falls into the fictionalization trap that too many "Based on a True Story" movies fall into.
While much of the story is accurate, I was disappointed to learn that the climactic search for the girl that Tim Ballard undertakes in the jungles of South America never happened. He really did quit his job with Homeland Security to pursue his passion to rescue children from trafficking, and the sting operation depicted in the film reportedly occurred pretty much as portrayed therein. Many of the characters are based on real people that Ballard encountered.
But trying to make part of it a (rather low-key) suspense film was unwise, and lessens the effectiveness of its message. A documentary on Mr. Ballard, or a more factual dramatization of his remarkable story in semi-documentary style would have been more interesting and impactful.
That's not to say it is a bad film. His concern for the children comes across as heartfelt and moving, and the story is told intelligently and coherently, with believable dialogue and good acting all around. The technical aspects are all likewise first rate. Although a little slow moving at times, especially near the beginning, it is well worth seeing. Viewers should however, be aware of the liberties taken with the true life story.
One more topic needs to be addressed here: the supposed "controversy" surrounding "Sound of Freedom." Everyone will interpret this movie differently, based on their own temperament and background. It may not be as earthshaking or profoundly life changing for some as it apparently is for others (it wasn't, for me), but neither is it some right-wing conspiracy theory thing. I don't know what "Qanon" is, but there is no mention or implication of anything like that in this movie. I think some activists are automatically against it because they don't like Jim Caviezel's politics.
It is really about the mission of one man, with agents of law enforcement, to save innocent children and bust the evil criminals who exploit them. There's nothing controversial about that.
While much of the story is accurate, I was disappointed to learn that the climactic search for the girl that Tim Ballard undertakes in the jungles of South America never happened. He really did quit his job with Homeland Security to pursue his passion to rescue children from trafficking, and the sting operation depicted in the film reportedly occurred pretty much as portrayed therein. Many of the characters are based on real people that Ballard encountered.
But trying to make part of it a (rather low-key) suspense film was unwise, and lessens the effectiveness of its message. A documentary on Mr. Ballard, or a more factual dramatization of his remarkable story in semi-documentary style would have been more interesting and impactful.
That's not to say it is a bad film. His concern for the children comes across as heartfelt and moving, and the story is told intelligently and coherently, with believable dialogue and good acting all around. The technical aspects are all likewise first rate. Although a little slow moving at times, especially near the beginning, it is well worth seeing. Viewers should however, be aware of the liberties taken with the true life story.
One more topic needs to be addressed here: the supposed "controversy" surrounding "Sound of Freedom." Everyone will interpret this movie differently, based on their own temperament and background. It may not be as earthshaking or profoundly life changing for some as it apparently is for others (it wasn't, for me), but neither is it some right-wing conspiracy theory thing. I don't know what "Qanon" is, but there is no mention or implication of anything like that in this movie. I think some activists are automatically against it because they don't like Jim Caviezel's politics.
It is really about the mission of one man, with agents of law enforcement, to save innocent children and bust the evil criminals who exploit them. There's nothing controversial about that.