| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 05/25/2013 : 16:24:50
I'm sure someone must have said something about this film already, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to find the thread where its mentioned.
Anyhoo we just saw this film today.
In the past both Matthew McConaughey and Reece Witherspoon have made some pretty poor film choices. That they chose this one to appear together was one of their better decisions for both of them. Along with Sarah Paulson (who technically had a bigger part than Witherspoon, but we all know there are no small parts...).
The movie isn't fast paced (except during the climax), and I personally couldn't see any scene that I'd ever consider to be superfluous. Like the steady tick-tock of a clock nothing was out of balance (well, except for some tiny bits of matching here and there).
I'm not going to delineate everything that worked here, as that would be stupid. Everything worked here. The cast worked perfectly together with no one stealing any scenes, the story and dialog felt honest and intelligent, and the action was just the right amount of edge-of-the-seat suspenseful. It was just, well... right - from start to finish. I'm giving it five stars out of five.
Note to whomever is interested - keep an eye out for this young actor, Tye Sheridan. He was in Tree of Life, but here - he's basically got the lead role in the film. Together with a first-timer by the name of Jacob Lofland, they make a pair of best friends that you're sure were picked for the parts straight out of the backwoods of Arkansas.
Finally, writer/director Jeff Nichols deserves huge kudos for this film. I'd say he's another one to watch out for. But now I'm truly pissed off that we missed his previous film, Take Shelter. The trailer for it made us really want to see it, but they stopped screening it before we got a chance to go. Who knew that when we saw the trailer for this one and said exactly the same thing, that they were both from the same writer/director? And how great is it that the film not only lives up to the trailer but actually outshines it, for a change? |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| randall |
Posted - 11/02/2013 : 12:21:05
Couldn't agree more heartily. A superb job. The story, cast, techies, all blend together into an assured piece of work. McConaughey is building back his career, as Ben Affleck did already. And you're so right: Jeff Nichols is a great director and storyteller. [I did see TAKE SHELTER, and it's just as well-told, though entirely different, featuring as it does a pervasive sense of unease.] Nichols is now on my short list: I'll see his next flick no matter what it is. |
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