A Private War

Play trailer

2:23

A Private War

R

2018

1h 50m

Biography

Drama

War

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

147 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin is a woman who is as comfortable downing martinis with high society's elite as she is brazenly staring down warlords and fleeing from gunfire. Driven by an enduring desire to bear witness and give voice to the voiceless, Colvin charges into danger, constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado.

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A Private War honors its real-life subject with a sober appraisal of the sacrifices required of journalists on the front lines - and career-best work by Rosamund Pike.

Read Critics Reviews

Cody Corrall

Chicago Reader

02/22/2020

While Rosamund Pike delivers an unbeatable portrayal of Colvin, the film itself fails to say anything new about addiction or the demons she battles.

Go to Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

02/20/2019

2/5

Poor, gifted Rosamund Pike is persuaded to play the American-born Sunday Times journo at full throttle, when half-throttle would be a nice occasional variant.

Go to Full Review

Matthew Norman

London Evening Standard

02/17/2019

3/5

At a time when pressured media budgets are conspiring, with the general preference for escapism over reality, to threaten war reporting's very existence, A Private War unflinchingly reminds us of its value.

Go to Full Review

Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

07/09/2024

2/5

You could pick up the many books that house Colvin’s accounts on war; you’d likely get more of a sharp kick in the gut out of those than by the movie.

Go to Full Review

Victor Pineyro

Seventh Art Studio

06/17/2022

6/10

Rosamund Pike is a master at her work, yet the film's structure does not help us connect with the crude reality of Marie Colvin's impressive persona. We become numb of emotion by the pace of it all. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/04/2022

3/4

Central to A Private War's effectiveness is star Rosamund Pike, playing Colvin in a performance that volleys between admirable strength and searing vulnerability.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Alyn F

@PinhalVehlo Jan 19

Captivating from start to finish

See more

Rolando R

@Rolando275 Aug 18

A really Great movie that shows this Incredibly Brave journalist. Dont want to say too much. It is really good and covers All that they do and endure to help Humanity and the costs.

See more

andrea c

@Charst May 19

Intensa biografia drammatica di una famosa reporter di guerra inglese che ha il coraggio di non fermarsi agli epici racconti di guerra e di coraggio, estremamente appetibili dal punto di vista dello spettacolo ma non così originali come invece è questa sceneggiatura che si destreggia tra i luoghi più pericolosi del mondo ed i luoghi più pericolosi della mente della sua protagonista; provata e usurata dalla sua vita e dalle crudeltà infinite a cui ha dovuto assistere. "A private war" è un titolo perfetto che in due parole spiega perfettamente il vero plus di questa biografia rispetto a tante altre. Rosamund Pike è assolutamente formidabile nel disinnescare totalmente la sua sensualità per dare spazio ad una donna tanto dura quanto fragile. Un bellissimo dramma in grado di raccontare una storia non così tanto conosciuta. Forse l'unico peccato è la scelta di proporre una timeline lineare ma con la presenza di un flash foward iniziale che "spoilera" la morte della protagonista ed il cui timing è centrale in tutte le date presentate, togliendo un po' l'effetto drammatico del finale.

See more

Elene N

@RT17590265 08/13/2024

Sorry, watched it for ten minutes and saw that it was not worth while enduring the rest of it.

See more

Pam L

@RT30588134 04/05/2024

R. Pike delivers in everything she does!

See more

Jeffrey P

@vanillavoodoo1 03/24/2024

I feel that, like with many other recent biopics, there probably wasn't enough source material for a story but they found a way. A character study lacking momentum and an overall connective theme, other than the character whom the film is based on, with the conclusion almost vindicating the path taken.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Matthew Heineman

Director

Rosamund Pike

Marie Colvin

Jamie Dornan

Paul Conroy

Tom Hollander

Sean Ryan

Stanley Tucci

Tony Shaw

Jérémie Laheurte

Remi Ochlik

Thank You for Your Service

77%

73%

Thank You for Your Service

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Thank You for Your Service

American Sniper

71%

84%

American Sniper

Watchlist

TRAILER

for American Sniper

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

68%

54%

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Molly's Game

82%

84%

Molly's Game

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Molly's Game

Trial by Fire

63%

76%

Trial by Fire

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Trial by Fire

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

A Private War: Trailer 1

2:23

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin is a woman who is as comfortable downing martinis with high society's elite as she is brazenly staring down warlords and fleeing from gunfire. Driven by an enduring desire to bear witness and give voice to the voiceless, Colvin charges into danger, constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado.

Director: Matthew Heineman
Producer: Basil Iwanyk, Marissa McMahon, Matthew George, Matthew Heineman, Charlize Theron
Screenwriter: Arash Amel
Distributor: Aviron Pictures
Production Co: Savvy Media Holdings, Denver and Delilah Productions, Thunder Road Pictures, Kamala Films
Rating: R (Disturbing Violent Images|Brief Sexuality/Nudity|Language Throughout)
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 5, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)