Laura Wall

Terrific acting from the entire cast -- but very little plot, at least not enough to justify the length of a full-length movie, so what they did instead was make it really really really did I say really SLOW -- long pauses -- meaningful gazes -- very little dialogue -- arggg. It would have made a really good Twilight Zone episode and it would fit quite easily within 30 minutes. And I would have loved it. But this movie took way too long for very little payoff. Oh well.

Wow. This is a beautiful and deeply impactful movie. The direction is spare, careful, and emotionally compact; the script is perfect. I think this is one of Kevin Costner's strongest performances in years and the supporting cast is spot on. Lesley Manville's performance as Blanche is a tour de force, nothing less. The only disappointment I had was with Diane Lane's performance; while it is passible it simply does not match up to the depth and complexity and power of the other characters,. Which is doubly unfortunate because her character is the linchpin of the movie. The entire story pivots around her-- her motivations, her passions, her pain, her secrets her guilt -- none of the subtlety of that came through for me. Nonetheless a powerful movie and one that I will watch again. I think the horror aspect has been overblown in the coverage of this movie; you have to understand it as a character study and the subplot the background plot which I won't go into detail here because I don't want to give it away is about power, control, and the lengths people will go to enforce or destroy identity in the name of family.

Slow, thin plot with bits taken from The Fugitive, Enemy of the State, and Red (but not funny). Shoot! I was looking for fast paced action and a decent plot but no luck. Really fine performance from Nick Nolte, and Jada Pinkett Smith is solid but there's not much script to support the rest of the cast including Gerard Butler. Oh well...

Ok how did I not know about this movie?? I think it might be the finest of Jeff Bridges' performances, among so many fine performances. And Matt Damon too! It has to be the definitive interpretation of the book ( which I've now ordered and can't wait to read). Elements of it remind me of "Night of the Hunter" (and not just because they quoted "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"!) It's moody, elegant, raw, pure, --- well, gritty!! Don't miss it. I bought it. I'm going to study it. The craft is just perfect. Wow.

Sketchy script sketchy direction, full of plot holes -- hard to believe this is the same guy who wrote"Million Dollar Baby." Oh well I guess even Paul Haggis can have an off day. Decent acting but overall not worth watching. Although it's nice to see Brian Dennehy in a movie again.

Intense! Acting, direction and camera work are all gripping. It reminds me Akira Kurosawa's "Runaway Train" in its existential examination of character, destiny and what we are capable of. Definitely had to close my eyes a couple of times for the gruesome violence. But I like character driven stories and the characters in this film stayed with me long after the credits ended.