margaret caruso

The movie could have been two hours shorter with more explanation of the cult. I feel like the director, writer or writers were tripping & completely lost the thread as far storyline goes. It takes over two hours to get the point & then it seemed to be just a waste of my time.

Mark Ruffalo gave a great performance. He was very sexy in a very macho style. I didn’t care for Meg Ryan’s character who made foolish choices & hung out with gritty characters. Jennifer Jason Leigh’s performance was very effective but disturbing. Much of the dialogue was disturbing. I don’t know why Kevin Bacon who was excellent but under used in this movie was even in it. Mark Ruffalo’s partner also gave an excellent portrayal of a hardened (excuse the expression) cop. The movie should have ended in 45 minutes. It was difficult to stick with it to the end. Too many shades of Looking for Mr. Goodbar but luckily with a female prevailing at the end. How stupid was she to walk on Henry Hudson Parkway full of blood & suddenly no traffic existing.

Very well written, directed & acted. Lots of twists I’m unable to predict. Upon reading about the town, Angola, it is noted for having one of the largest maximum security prisons in the nation. The population of the town (very poor people, shotgun houses, cops, shady politicians, lawyers & judges) is very cleverly woven together. In real life, anything can & does happen. Great acting on all sides. The judge does make decisions that paint himself into the liar’s corner. I accept it because he’s not a criminal. He’s looking at the situation from his experience as a judge. If he were a smart criminal, he would have had the car towed & crushed immediately & watched it being done. Adam’s role is one crazy dangerous curiosity after another. He makes me nervous so I feel he’s really doing his job. As far as Adam hitting the motorcycle of a boy who happened to be a mobster’s son... does anyone recall Gotti’s son who was accidentally killed while on a bicycle & the eventual escalating aftermath? Art imitating life? As far as police bringing the youth to an undisclosed location to torture him... when I was a teen, police would grab the boys who were wise guys & bring them to hidden bank parking lot (before cameras) & beat the s—t out of them. No one said anything or claimed police brutality. Kids didn’t know what they know now. In fact, I witnessed payoffs. It all happens for real.

Very interesting study of the human spirit transcending time.

It’s not an upbeat, inspirational movie but it could be any one of the many disturbed people we read about everyday. Phoenix is riveting in both acting & incredible body movements as he twists his body into positions that seem most uncomfortable.

It’s very entertaining, informative in some ways & light enough to relax while watching. I like his guests.

The movie was well acted but not cohesive. There were too many open ended questions. The part with the adorable dog was not really believable… intense but seemed more like filler. I felt that a different writer went into work each day & only read the last paragraph of the writer before him.