I missed all the hype about this film, so I managed to go into the cinema without any false hopes or impressions of the film.
I was, however, expecting a better film. Especially after all the names flashed before me during the opening credits - Paul Newman, Jude Law, Tom Hanks, Sam Mendes, and most notably Conrad L. Hall. All of them disappointed me, except for Hall, whose cinematography was as excellent as it has been in his other films. Newman and Law were simply too flat - well, there was at least some development in Newman's character (unlike the two-dimensional-snuff-you-while-you're-sleeping-because-I'm-truly-evil Law). But I never felt anything for him, no anger or sympathy. Perhaps I wasn't meant to, but nothing in this film really gripped me.
I've read a few reviews about what an epic film this was. No, it was a lengthy film about Tom Hanks going on a killing spree, with long periods of non-epic slow-talking and short bursts of unnecessarily violent gun-battle, finished off with a dull, morose ending. The start of the film was too revealing, and didn't add to the film, as perhaps the start of American Beauty did.
If you're expecting an epic, go and watch Cinema Paradiso instead.
4/10.
I was, however, expecting a better film. Especially after all the names flashed before me during the opening credits - Paul Newman, Jude Law, Tom Hanks, Sam Mendes, and most notably Conrad L. Hall. All of them disappointed me, except for Hall, whose cinematography was as excellent as it has been in his other films. Newman and Law were simply too flat - well, there was at least some development in Newman's character (unlike the two-dimensional-snuff-you-while-you're-sleeping-because-I'm-truly-evil Law). But I never felt anything for him, no anger or sympathy. Perhaps I wasn't meant to, but nothing in this film really gripped me.
I've read a few reviews about what an epic film this was. No, it was a lengthy film about Tom Hanks going on a killing spree, with long periods of non-epic slow-talking and short bursts of unnecessarily violent gun-battle, finished off with a dull, morose ending. The start of the film was too revealing, and didn't add to the film, as perhaps the start of American Beauty did.
If you're expecting an epic, go and watch Cinema Paradiso instead.
4/10.
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