Super-high production values here. That's why I rented it. I knew they'd spent some money. To some(me too, initially), it looks like a "B" flick you've never heard of.
In that regard it might exceed some people's expectations.
In hindsite, however, the story is an excellent platform for a great drama, but unfortunately, that drama never comes to fruition.
And I'm not sure why. The film needed more dialog between its lead character(Auda, played by Tahir from 'A Prophet' fame), and both of his "fathers". We get far too little quality acting and dialog, and way too much meandering amongst the desert. Mark Strong is excellent as usual - too bad he has 5 or 6 lines in the entire film(most coming in the first 10 minutes).
The film should have worked dynamically, but the lack of quality dialog and the lack of drama ruin the film. One of many balls that were dropped. The "falcon" storyline and connection - also dropped like a 16-pound bowling ball. The final scene between Banderas and Rahim, ditto.
Watch this film for what it should have been - one of the best made for TV epics ever put on the living room screen.
The film deserves some credit for not selling-out to the geek squad, and for not boring me(entirely), but the film really could have been great.
It's quite beautiful to look at, and most of the acting is passable, but again, it lacks the drama to give it the emotional power to match its 'look'.
60/100 and considering it's 50 million-dollar budget - I won't be adding it to the B-Movie-Marathon anytime soon(even though its total-lack of box-take makes it eligible).
not bad for out-of-the-redbox with low-expectations.
In that regard it might exceed some people's expectations.
In hindsite, however, the story is an excellent platform for a great drama, but unfortunately, that drama never comes to fruition.
And I'm not sure why. The film needed more dialog between its lead character(Auda, played by Tahir from 'A Prophet' fame), and both of his "fathers". We get far too little quality acting and dialog, and way too much meandering amongst the desert. Mark Strong is excellent as usual - too bad he has 5 or 6 lines in the entire film(most coming in the first 10 minutes).
The film should have worked dynamically, but the lack of quality dialog and the lack of drama ruin the film. One of many balls that were dropped. The "falcon" storyline and connection - also dropped like a 16-pound bowling ball. The final scene between Banderas and Rahim, ditto.
Watch this film for what it should have been - one of the best made for TV epics ever put on the living room screen.
The film deserves some credit for not selling-out to the geek squad, and for not boring me(entirely), but the film really could have been great.
It's quite beautiful to look at, and most of the acting is passable, but again, it lacks the drama to give it the emotional power to match its 'look'.
60/100 and considering it's 50 million-dollar budget - I won't be adding it to the B-Movie-Marathon anytime soon(even though its total-lack of box-take makes it eligible).
not bad for out-of-the-redbox with low-expectations.