There have been far too many movies made where people are in over their heads, and things get more screwed up as they go about their lives making countless stupid mistakes. The Law of Murphy is anything but original in Hollywood. But since our protagonists are neither stupid nor amateurs, this is above average intriguing.
Del Toro and Ryan Phillipe, though hardly an instant classic, is a rather dynamic duo. Juliette Lewis will always deliver and a silver star is also awarded to Taye Diggs. James Caan could do his part blindfolded, but thankfully doesn't and struts his stuff in several scenes. Add to that a brilliant Geoffrey Lewis and the casting here is well above average.
This flick offers regular little surprises and some classic lines, such as "Shut that cunt up, or I'll f***-start her head". It tries a bit too hard at times, though, adding twists that add little and interferes with an ideal flow. There are simply too many angles, and too many little stories. The best, such as Caan vs Del Toro are real good, but some of them just take up unnecessary space.
It picks up towards the end when people start dying (and with them unnecessary angles) and director Christopher McQuarrie is able to focus on the end game with fewer distractions. All in all the film lacks a bit focus from time to time, which is peculiar considering McQuarrie wrote the absolutely magnificent "The Usual Suspects" for which he won an Academy Award. It's still nowhere near bad, and at times outright good.
6/10
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar