Just saw an advance screening of this. I'm a big fan of David Fincher and this movie was a definite departure from his visual style. It was shot in HD with the Thomson Viper, which looked absolutely beautiful. It was an amazingly well-structured story considering it was based entirely on case materials. It's about two and a half hours long and I didn't think the story picked up enough until the last half hour or so, but it was worth it in the end. I was disappointed to see such a "normal" movie come from Fincher, but I recognize and appreciate that the subject matter wouldn't have been appropriate for the grittiness and chaos that he usually injects into his storytelling. The acting was all very good, especially Robert Downey Jr., and the scenes were realistic enough to make me feel like I was watching a documentary re-enactment of actual events, but dramatic enough to keep me interested and entertained.
Not quite on the same level as Fight Club or Se7en (his two best films, in my opinion), but for what he had to work with, I think he did a superb job, and I continue to look forward to his future work. I think that rabid fans of Fincher's style will be disappointed, but anyone who appreciates an interesting and engaging story that is well-told won't be.
I didn't pay to much attention to the previews at first. Then I watched America's Most Wanted last Saturday. They did a full hour special on it. I didn't know it was a true story. All in all. I gotta go see it.
------------------------------ Favorite movie quote:
"You will always be a broke, ghetto, punk a**, wanna be me b****" -Chip Hightower (Blair Underwood "G")
Posts: 60 | Location: The South-MEMPHIS,TN | Registered: March 28, 2006
I loved this movie. A bit too long but one of those embarrassment of riches situations. I think this is yet another step towards the legitimacy of digital photography as it looks phenomenal. The amount of detail and realism in the low-level light situations is fantastic.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Posts: 237 | Location: Orange, CA | Registered: March 03, 2006
Originally posted by Nervous Larry: It was fun to see all the dumbass teenagers in the audience walk out halfway through, completely dissapointed.
Hey, don't completely blame them. The halfway point was about the same time that it seemed Fincher himself gave up trying to make the next hour and a half interesting. The movie was good up unto that point where it dived down to just a decent cop drama. It was sad to see Fincher do that, he still made one hell of half of a great movie.
elliott (otiose)...
"Why should North Carolina taxpayers pay for something they find objectionable?" --Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham
You know, I do agree, like everyone else here, that the middle was too long. Too many details- the details work in the first and third acts, but in the middle it seems useless unless he's trying to make us feel exhausted by the facts like the characters did. I think if he shaved off about 20-30 minutes the movie would have been a lot better. And also, if he injected a little more creepy atmosphere in the later half, keeping the first half very robotic like he did- he could have completely messed with the audience.
Unfortunately, people thought this was going to be a SLASHER/THRILLER type of movie. THat's why my entire audience was literally teenage couples who all hated it.
Posts: 467 | Location: Penis Town | Registered: August 24, 2004
I found this to be like The Good Shepard. Long and slowly paced but not boring and very well made. I'd tell him to cut 20 minutes but I wouldn't know what to tell him to cut.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Posts: 237 | Location: Orange, CA | Registered: March 03, 2006
