I enjoyed the movie based on Mariane Pearl's account (A Mighty Heart) of the kidnapping of her husband, an account that is dominated by an international effort to find him. The movie was a well acted police procedural effort that felt to me (fwiw) to give a real sense of time and place, including a positive view of certain Pakistani authorities. It had a certain dry flavor at times -- almost like a documentary -- but showed clear skill worthy of respect.
I also saw Ms Pearl herself speak (on C-SPAN) about the book and her husband, her voice showing that she truly does try to follow the tenets of a poem she used to close her book:
I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.
This is from "School Prayer" by Diane Ackerman and ends thusly:
I will honor all life
—wherever and in whatever form
it may dwell—on Earth my home,
and in the mansions of the stars.
A close friend of Danny Pearl, and Mariane's key support during the search, was very upset at the movie. Asra Nomani, a fellow female journalist born in India, discussed the matter in a distraught fashion in an interview with Brian Lamb. [The interview is not just about that, and is worth reading, even if you disagree with her criticism.] She seems to ignore the reality of dramatic license and is upset that Danny Pearl is given such a small role, though his wife (play by Angelina Jolie, who went on Charlie Rose and elsewhere with her to promote the film) supported the film.
Yes, the film focuses on Mariane, but a film can only do so much, especially one concerning a search where the husband is obviously off-screen. The presence of a major star would also be focused upon, but we should also be fair -- Jolie did an excellent job, and this is no vanity project -- she plays it with the correct degree of humility and due care. And, again, imperfect as it might be (and, if I was her, it also might distress me to view how what I experience was skewered in certain ways), the movie portrayed events overall with due care as well.
Or, at least as well as one might reasonably expect a film would. I am currently reading the book, which ends with many letters written in support addressed to the author (or, rather, co-author), her son, and Danny Pearl's family. The extended format allows us learn more about Danny, the author and others involved in this story. About half done, and it is recommended, particularly for the brave voice of the author, including her Buddhist sentiments. I will toss in any further comments that might be warranted.
In his memory, we too should all try to "honor all life" as humbly as we can.