Amazon Holiday

Monday, August 18, 2008

Red

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When 3 teenage boys kill an old widower's dog, he becomes obsessed with getting justice, or at least making them admit to their feelings of remorse.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Brian Cox, Kim Dickens, Tom Sizemore, Noel Fisher, Kyle Gallner, Shiloh Fernandez, Amanda Plummer, Robert Englund, Richard Reihle

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketProceed with Caution. The story feels like one that's never been told before-- except in the Jack Ketchum novel, on which it is based. So if you liked the book, or you like small movies about never giving up on justice, that are in no way hopeful or uplifting, this movie is for you.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not really, but it does have Tom Sizemore in it, and there's always something kitsch about that.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It could be hard on the dog-loving contingent.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Unless they're reading this blog, the awards nominators probably won't even find out this movie exists.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: As is to be expected, Brian Cox gives a rich, complex, and transformative performance. But Kim Dickens proves why she has a bigger career in television than in film. Her depth of character is not only unconvincing on the big screen, it's lack also causes her to seem annoyingly trite, regularly taking you out of the movie, as you think about how mis-matched she is to Brian Cox.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Clearly the directors (and producers) did a lot with a little. While the film is small and contained, it maintains a level of professionalism that isn't always apparent in films of this size.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It is continually alluded to that something is going on beneath the surface in these teenage kids' family that causes them to act so badly, and possibly even justifies their behavior on some level. But aside from the fact that their dad is a total jerk, we never end up finding out what it is that has them all running scared and acting evil. Had that been clarified, the ending might've felt like it had resolved something.

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2 comments:

Farzan said...

hmm..the plot sounds kind of cheesy so I dont know. Good review though

Monique said...

This film is in no way cheezy. It's more dark, brooding, kind of bordering on a "slice of life", real-feeling horror movie. It's just really small. It just depends if that's your thing or not. It's not really mine.