★★★½ Paradise Now

[Twinkletoes: 3.5]

Tense and somewhat disturbing film that was at times surprisingly humorous, it tells the story of two good friends who are chosen to go on a suicide bombing mission in Israel. The story takes place over the few days prior to the planned mission and deals with their personal reasons for wanting to do this, their final meetings with loved ones who they can't tell, and the second thoughts they may be having about carrying out the mission. Does an excellent job of humanizing these people but in the end this film wasn't quite as powerful to me as I was expecting.

Ed. Note: I have heard from others that this is good -- unsettling but good.