very good political thriller regard the aftermath of terrorism and the use of political torture to obtain one objective in flush out the terrorist . the story be interweave where two family be adversely affect by the terrorist event . this be one of meryl streep best role in year . she play a cold and calculate and cunning director of the cia who allow these thing to go on . she be out of the george bush dick cheney school of handle the war on terrorism . have her part be expand and miss streep certainly would have be up for an award at oscar time . jake gyllenhaal be our hero . a cia agent who really can not take what go on . we have a terrorist who actually have a heart and it cost him his life in this well direct and finely paced film . alan arkin appear briefly in the part of a conniving senator . mr. arkin seem to get well with age .