Osama (2004)

Useful as sociological document, but not terribly good as actual cinema. The main problem is that the girl-to-boy ruse is so terribly transparent. I had a hard time believing that even the dimmest Taliban would buy the lead as a boy -- I kept wanting to stick my head into the frame and scream, "At least throw some bass into yer voice, wouldja?" Occasionally nicely shot, mostly inert; I think I would have much rather seen a film about Osama's cocky male friend.

Grade: C+