Beirut

The 2018 American political thriller directed by Brad Anderson and written by Tony Gilroy is set in Beirut, Lebanon, during the tumultuous period of the Lebanese Civil War in 1982. The story follows Mason Skiles (Jon Hamm), a former U.S. diplomat who left Beirut a decade earlier after his wife Nadia (Leïla Bekhti) was killed in a terrorist attack orchestrated by the brother of their adopted son Karim (Idir Chender). Now an alcoholic working as a labor dispute mediator in New England, Skiles is unexpectedly summoned back to Beirut under the pretense of delivering a lecture, only to discover that his true mission is to negotiate the release of his old friend and former colleague Cal Riley (Mark Pellegrino), who has been kidnapped by a terrorist group led by the now-grown Karim. Skiles navigates a complex web of bureaucratic obstacles and hidden agendas within the U.S. government, dealing with CIA officials Donald Gaines (Dean Norris) and Gary Ruzak (Shea Whigham), and finds an ally in CIA agent Sandy Crowder (Rosamund Pike). As negotiations unfold, Skiles learns that Karim demands the release of his brother Rami, held by the Israelis. Skiles and Crowder undertake risky maneuvers, including stealing $4 million from the CIA office, to facilitate the exchange. However, after successfully securing Riley's release, Rami is assassinated by an Israeli sniper, leading to further complications. The film concludes with Skiles departing Beirut amid ongoing regional instability. The movie received positive reviews for its tense narrative and strong performances, particularly highlighting the portrayals by Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike.