![Christian Bale plays a jealous reporter in the WWI period drama, ‘The Promise.’ Now playing. Photo Credit: Open Road Pictures](/images/resized/images/news/2016/107_apr21/12_100_100.jpg)
Rating: «« out of 4 stars
Running Time: 134 min.
It’s unfortunate when a movie attempts to tackle a serious and important issue and falls short. That’s the feeling one gets while watching the period drama, The Promise. The intent of shedding light on and garnering attention to the Armenian genocide is certainly noble. However, packaging such an abominable event within the melodramatic framework of a slick and polished romance flick doesn’t end up gelling.
Set in 1915 during the onset of WWI, Mikael (Oscar Isaac) is an apothecary living in a small village in Armenia. In order to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor, Mikael makes arrangements to marry a local woman.
But...