Triage

Triage is an odd little movie that’s rarely as engaging as one imagines it’s meant to be, yet there’s certainly no denying the effectiveness of certain sequences and of star Colin Farrell’s tremendously captivating performance. The storyline follows war photographer Mark Walsh (Farrell) as he arrives home following a near-death experience in Kurdistan, with the bulk of the proceedings subsequently detailing his efforts at moving on with his life. The degree to which Triage ultimately becomes an unapologetically low-key drama is admittedly somewhat surprising, as the movie opens with a series of visceral sequences featuring Mark’s efforts at documenting the atrocities within Kurdistan. It’s not surprising to note that the film’s abrupt change into a subdued character study does take some getting used to, with Farrell’s career-best work undoubtedly ensuring that the transformation isn’t quite as jarring as it could have been. The sudden appearance of Christopher Lee’s Joaquín Morales, the man who inevitably helps Mark work through his issues, initially contributes to the undeniably uneven atmosphere, although the dialogue-heavy scenes between Mark and Joaquín inevitably play an instrumental role in triggering the movie’s admittedly powerful climax. It’s the mystery surrounding what really happened to Mark that ultimately propels the story forward and sustains the viewer’s interest, with the final result a deliberately paced endeavor that’s consistently elevated by Farrell’s eye-opening performance.

**1/2 out of ****