While this is undoubtedly a film featuring some fine acting performances and some nicely written dialog, it’s not a perfect film.

Writing: Writer/director/producer Paul Haggis is known primarily as a writer, going as far back as writing for TV shows like Different Strokes, of all things. In recent years, he’s had a string of commercial and critical hits that has elevated him into a highly regarded writer. Personally, I have extremely mixed reactions to seeing his name as writer on a credit list. While he’s got some excellent work under his belt (Casino Royale, Million Dollar Baby and Flags Of Our Fathers), he’s been responsible for some stuff I’ve considered complete crap (the TV series The Black Donnellys and films like The Last Kiss and the abysmal and criminally overrated Crash). While he manages to avoid making socio-political commentary for most of this movie, he just can’t help himself with the final scene of the film. Frankly, I truly hated the last scene of this movie. Many people probably consider it a clever method for making a statement, but it just hit me as alarmingly cheap and excruciatingly out of place and reactionary. I had a similar reaction to Crash, but at least this movie was quite good up to the ending, unlike the meandering, hateful, annoying film that Crash was up to the end.

Production: No complaints to be found in this category. Most everything about this production is correctly downplayed. It feels very real. Perhaps there could have been one or two fewer strip clubs/bars in the film (though that’s actually a writing complaint). Cinematography isn’t flashy, and it totally works. Sound design is equally flat and realistic. The Iraq footage, portrayed through garbled cell-phone recorded video, also feels very real.

Cast: Here’s the true strength of the film. Tommy Lee Jones turns in an award-worthy performance. And it’s amazingly downplayed and subtle. He’s always been a very talented actor, and this movie really puts him in his element. Susan Sarandon isn’t in the movie a whole lot, but she makes it count in the scenes she has. Charlize Theron hasn’t gotten quite the level of praise from most critics for her performance as Jones has, but I think her performance is quite remarkable. Again, it’s all in the subtlety. Theron is a very talented actress, and she definitely brings her character to life, and feels just as much at home in the environment and role as Jones does. Other supporting roles are well cast, with the likes of James Franco, Barry Corbin, Frances Fisher, Josh Brolin and Jason Patrick (where the heck has Jason Patrick been in recent years, anyway?).

Music: Mark Isham comes through with a mildly serviceable music score. It’s definitely nothing special or notable, but it plays at the down-to-earth nature of the movie and story well enough to stay out of the way and support the film.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 5th, 2007 at 2:30 am and is filed under Movie Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.