| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
B+ |
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| Direction: |
B+ |
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| Visuals: |
B |
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Surprisingly Satisfying
by Lazlo (movies profile)
Feb 4, 2007
2
of
3 people found this review helpful
I expected a tit-for-tat film, eventually culminating in a final showdown between these two characters, and was, frankly, not all that interested in seeing this film. But both Gipson (Jackson) and Banek (Affleck) are sympathetic characters at various points throughout the movie, and both try to do the right thing by calling off this personal vendetta, but then circumstances toss them directly back into it. Baneck is filled with an arrogance and cockiness that eventually fades to weariness and self-discovery; Gipson is sympathetic and lost, his missed appointment and shattered life turning him into a rage-filled, vindictive madman, who eventually must decide whether or not he can allow his life to spiral out of control over this accident.
William Hurt is fantastic as Gipsons' AA sponsor, perhaps the best minor role in the film, aided by the fact that he gets the best lines. If there were an Oscar for "Best Performance in Under 10 Minutes on Film," I'd nominate Hurt for this role.
Although on the surface this is a story about revenge, it is also a story about redemption, the decisions we make and whether or not we have the will to change our lives and become what we know we can, should, and want to be. |
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