‘Backstabbing for Beginners’: A nuanced yet dry docudrama (review)

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Political thriller “Backstabbing for Beginners” is based on a true story, following the memoirs of Michael Soussan. Focusing on real-world corruption within the UN’s Oil-for-Food Programme, “Backstabbing for Beginners” stars Theo James as the Soussan, and Ben Kingsley as his mentor, Pasha. With a solid cast, including Kingsley at the helm, and a neat premise, “Backstabbing for Beginners” is an enjoyable, albeit uneven, romp.

Idealist Michael Soussan joins the United Nations and, though fresh in his tenure with the UN, is quickly assigned to aid Pasha, a high up administrator of the Food-for-Oil Programme. Pasha makes his intention to continue the programme clear, despite evident corruption such as bribery. Soussan discovers that Saddam Hussein and a smattering of other powerful players took kickbacks, and even sold expired medicine.
While in Iraq with Pasha, Michael meets Christina Dupre (Jacqueline Bisset), a similarly-minded diplomat who claims to have evidence of corruption within the programme. Her performance is subdued yet fantastic, and all-too-brief. Surprisingly, Kingsley as Pasha struggles to provide an amply threatening presence. Instead, he launches fucks which scriptwriter Per Fly generously peppers throughout the screenplay.

Considering the corruption which extends beyond bribes to crimes as drastic as murder, “Backstabbing for Beginners” airs more on the political side, much less on the thriller element. That’s not to say it’s a boring film, as I found myself entertained throughout. But frequent cliches in both plot and dialogue mean that the story seems to simply happen. Despite the weighty subject matter, it’s a decidedly mellow depiction.

Still, Pasha’s character approaches corruption with a mixed attitude. While acknowledging its existence, he posits that what matters is if more positives resulted than negatives. This moral ambiguity Pasha presents adds an intriguing nuance to his character, avoiding the purely evil villain set up.

Ultimately, “Backstabbing For Beginners” is an important, if largely unheard of, story. The themes it plays with, particularly moral grey areas and rampant, accepted corruption in well-established organizations, makes it worth watching. Unfortunately, “Backstabbing For Beginners” bears a far more enticing name than the film itself which tends to amble along until its mellow third act. Go into the movie knowing full well that it’s a bit dry with a lackluster screenplay, and you’ll enjoy the docudrama for what it is.