Reviews

If you are the kind of film love I am, you spend months watching mediocre films to get to that needle in the haystack, a real gem. THIS is that film. Hands down one of the best films I've ever seen. I should add that I am a pro writer by trade, and the screenplay is amazing. I am now going to check out the original - looks like it may be Danish? I read Danish and Norwegian, so I look forward to the original screenplay.

Jake Gyllenhaal and two others give astounding - ASTOUNDING - performances. All three. Do not skip this one, People!

This is a very interesting series of short documentaries on various non-mainstream religious groups that can be defined as "cults" by social scientists who study the phenomenon.

While watching, I found myself noticing two things: 1 - It is hosted by veteran journalist Elizabeth Vargas, best known for investigative stints with ABC news and A & E. Like many reporters from such backgrounds, Vargas is a bit stuck in a progressive globalist point of view; you won't find objective reporting presenting both sides of the issue here. What you will find is a lot of moral elitism. 2 - There was less questioning by Vargas than there was leading the interviewees to make statements that condemn a given religion or religious group. Given that the interviewees are nearly all people who left these groups, this is a recipe for some pretty biased information.

Don't get me wrong. I agree that the practices in some of these groups are highly problematic and in some cases a violation of both American constitutional law and of international laws. However, the extremes anti-religious local officials went to in order to shut the groups down or simply embarrass and harass them into leaving the area, is also a form of bigotry and often danced close to being illegal as well.

It would have been a braver and much more thought-provoking program, would Vargas and producers left the political agenda at the door, interviewed persons from both sides, and painted a more neutral view - allowing the intelligent viewer to discern the truth for themselves.

In short, it's worth watching. If you hate religion, you'll love it. If you tend toward govt. control, you'll love it. If you like to see a balanced report and think for yourself.... take it with a huge grain of salt and combine it with your own research.

This tale has been filmed many times, some attempts more successful than others. This one is unique in that it respects Poe's tale, and more importantly the atmosphere he intended, while adding depth to the story. The Tell-Tale Heart, contrary to what the description says for this film, is a short story, not a poem. It's one of the most well-known and literarily important stories in American literature.

Here, the lead actor narrates the story as is done in Poe's original; this narration is mostly straight out of Poe faithfully, with a few lines added to support the modern take on the story. Patrick John Flueger gives one of the best reads I have ever heard - this film is worth seeing simply to hear that.

But you'll find much more. Flueger's performance is the surprise find. He is one of the most underrated actors of his generation, and unfortunately there are only a few films that really show him off. (Check out "Lawless Range" - another indie featuring a breathtaking performance.) Bogdonavich is also fine as the "old man" our protagonist murders in a psychotic rage.

The modern twist envisions the narrator as a soldier pilot returned from Afghanistan who was captured and tortured brutally after his plane crashed. True to Poe's story, he fights desperately to convince us of his sanity while explaining why he killed someone he liked and respected. As in Poe's tale, the chilling effect comes as we realize just how crazy he is. The additional story here adds a tragic depth that is haunting.

Notice the elements that make the film feel very theatrical - it's easy to forget this isn't a stage play. The costumes are reminiscent of the 1930s, the automobiles a decade later, the music lapses into modern jazz, and the characters make references to pop culture of the 1970s. I at first thought this was sloppy filmmaking, but as the film progressed I realized it was intentional, and it added to the feeling of chaos the narrator feels as his mind spins out of control.

Overall the film is an experiment. Some of it works well. It is innovative, terribly creative, and you can feel the respect the creators had for Poe's story and for their craft. Watch it for these elements, and for the wonderful performances.

There are always some viewers, given a quiet indie film, who don't understand the pacing or subtlety and give it a bad review. I think this will happen, unfortunately, with this little gem of a film.

It's executive produced by Beau Bridges, who has a cameo role. The script is subtle, to-the-point, and sparse in language: like the best indie films, this one relies on a lot of stellar non-verbal acting to tell the story. The story is unique and asks the viewer to think about questions of loyalty and morality, about the meaning of "good" character in a person who does a very bad thing. Is a very bad act justified if the motive is very good?

No review of this film should be made without mention of four things: 1 - The nice little script. I say this as a pro writer and editor. This script is tight, honest, and well-structured. 2 - The beautiful camera work. Slightly arty, it adds to the dreamlike, contemplative quality of the story. 3 - The score. It has an unnerving, menacing quality that keeps the viewer subconsciously nervous. 4 - Patrick John Flueger's beautiful performance. I sat back after this film thinking how underrated this actor really is. He has to carry the film - he's in nearly every scene and the story is fully about his character, and he is never less than mesmerizing. He brings skill that raises the simple lines of the script to a multi-layer level, and a natural charm that invites the viewer into the experience of the character. The character of Sean is ultimately a heartbreaking character - a man trying hard to live a moral, good life in the amoral chaos created by a dysfunctional brother and parental history. Flueger truly brings Sean to life in a way few actors could have. I'd like to shake the hand of whatever casting director's decision this was - it could not have been better..

I wish this film wasn't marketed as a "modern western". What the heck does that even mean? It is simply a unique indie film - part family drama and part crime thriller - that takes place in rural Texas. People, not every film where someone pulls a calf or rides a horse is a "western"! I spend a lot of time searching indie films for the occasional gem (1 out of 50?) and this is one of those gems.