Battle in Seattle

Reviewer: James van Maanen
Rating (out of 5): ***½

Stuart Townsend wrote and directed Battle In Seattle and the film (the actor's first outing in those capacities), makes no bones about his utter dislike and disrespect of the WTO (World Trade Organization) and its "achievements." He lays all this out at the beginning and then launches into his docudrama set during several tumultuous days in 1999 when protestors, joined by labor organizations, managed to prevent the WTO from holding any kind of successful conference in the city of Seattle. At the time, this event -- an important part of the history of the Progressive Movement in the USA -- made big international news and gave a much-needed adrenaline jolt to progressive organizations worldwide.

Almost a full decade has come and gone since the Seattle event, but Townsend's movie does a surprisingly good job of putting together the pieces: the protesters, including the anarchic sub-group who smashed storefronts and raised the ire of, not only the city fathers but many of the other protestors; the politicos, including everyone from the Mayor to Governor all the way to President Clinton (who was scheduled to attend the event); the news media and film crews; and many of the rank-and-file WTO attendees. From the first, Townsend introduces characters who initially seem to be standard-issue cliché -- the young policeman raring to kick butt (nicely handled by Channing Tatum, Stop-Loss) and the older, more season vet (Woody Harrelson), the smug and cynical TV reporter (a very good Connie Nielsen) -- but who change perceptibly over the course of these events. This makes not only the characters, but the movie as a whole, more interesting and persuasive.

Townsend handles the "battle" scenes quite well -- the crowds, the fighting, the give-and-take among the demonstrators. He manages his exposition a little heavily at times, and there's one scene in a jail cell with hands gently entwined, during which my companion opined, "I think I see a musical number coming." But these are small potatoes compared to the very real skill with which the writer/director has brought events, opinions, politics and economics together into a fast-moving, comprehensible whole. The well-used and relatively starry cast includes Charlize Theron, Martin Henderson, Michelle Rodriguez, Andre Benjamin (excellent), Isaach De Bankolé (Otomo), Rade Serbedzija (Before the Rain), Jennifer Carpenter and Ray Liotta.

I also recommend watching one of the DVD's special features: interviews with various politicians, government employees and labor leaders about what this battle achieved in its own day -- and since. And those interested in more background on the Seattle protests might want to check out This Is What Democracy Looks Like and, if you can find it (not out on DVD), 30 Frames a Second: The WTO in Seattle.