Lost Valley

A new flick just hit our theaters from two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis.

The three leads are all Oscar winners too, which is a pretty solid hint that this movie is going to be good.
Plus, it’s a drama. Given how often AMC Theatres puts dramas on the schedule, we can actually hold out hope for a decent one. I mean, when you have a crew this talented, you really ought to expect something special.
Though, honestly, it didn't have to be this way.

Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank, a Vietnam veteran whose two sons followed in his footsteps. One is already dead, and the other deserted his military base without permission. Hank doesn't act scared, but you can feel that "certain" vibe coming off him, and he sets out to find his son. Once he realizes his boy is dead, the search for the son ends and the hunt for the killer begins.
In a lot of ways, this reminded me of the brilliant "Zodiac," even though they don't share much besides the theme of "hunting a killer"—except here, it isn't really about that at all. It's more of a "search for oneself," or as Jones so beautifully put it: "Only after we conquer ourselves can we face others."

This could have easily been just another entry in the endless string of anti-Iraq projects. It could have been another cookie-cutter "find a killer" flick or a typical American story worn thin by repetition.
Haggis skillfully avoided all those traps.
The acting ensemble delivers a massive, heavy-hitting performance. It was great seeing Jones and Sarandon on screen together; I haven't seen them paired up since "The Client." Charlize Theron plays a cop helping Jones out, but she's also helping the whole group—and helping him find himself.
Jones gives one of the best performances I've seen on screen lately, and it actually gets better the less he talks and moves. I remember Theron as this gorgeous blonde girl (I still haven't seen "Monster"), and at first glance, I didn't even recognize her. She's "aged" a bit, "lost" some of that youthful charm, and became truly excellent—nothing like your typical, stereotypical investigator. I have to admit, the most thankless role goes to Sarandon. She’s in very little of the film and mostly just has to mourn or cry, or at least show up looking totally depressed (aside from a few minutes of normal conversation with Jones at the start). But I'd say she handles it perfectly, and thanks to her, the movie avoids getting too sappy.
The film doesn't suffer from filler, rushed pacing, bad acting, awkward music, or lousy dialogue. Everything is exactly where it needs to be. Unlike "Zodiac," which I mentioned earlier, it doesn't struggle with details (even though those served a different purpose there), but it was still interesting to spot—if you were paying attention—a picture of a smiling Bush hanging on the wall during that intense dramatic conversation between Theron and Jones in her office.

I absolutely have to mention that about ten minutes before the end, there's this scene at the confession table. It’s just a series of close-ups without any dialogue, but it’s executed so simply and skillfully that it leaves you speechless—even more than shots that are technically much more difficult in other movies.

This is probably the best drama I've seen at AMC Theatres so far (unless you count "Zodiac," which isn't strictly a drama), and it's definitely one of the best films of the year, right up there with "Zodiac."

I have to say, the ending really got to me. I actually shed a few tears—tears that felt way more earned than the ones I expected from "Damnation," which didn't move me at all. Even though the final scene is predictable, the way the story unfolds combined with the score, including the Puerto Rican influence through Jones, makes it one of the most impactful endings I've seen in recent memory.

Objectively: 9.5/10
Subjectively: 10/10

A must-watch!

And I should add, Ebert is usually high quality, even if he occasionally misses the mark. He rarely opens my eyes because he tends to write about generalities and draws parallels that I could probably draw myself (most of them, anyway). But I always love reading him because you can tell he takes his job seriously. However, this is the only review where he pointed out everything I would have said, and where I agree with him 100%. It's a strange feeling.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...4/-1/REVIEWS01

Amanda Nguyen5 said:A new flick just hit our theaters from two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis.

The three leads are all Oscar winners too, which is a pretty solid hint that this movie is going to be good.
Plus, it’s a drama. Given how often AMC Theatres puts dramas on the schedule, we can actually hold out hope for a decent one. I mean, when you have a crew this talented, you really ought to expect something special.
Though, honestly, it didn't have to be this way.

Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank, a Vietnam veteran whose two sons followed in his footsteps. One is already dead, and the other deserted his military base without permission. Hank doesn't act scared, but you can feel that "certain" vibe coming off him, and he sets out to find his son. Once he realizes his boy is dead, the search for the son ends and the hunt for the killer begins.
In a lot of ways, this reminded me of the brilliant "Zodiac," even though they don't share much besides the theme of "hunting a killer"—except here, it isn't really about that at all. It's more of a "search for oneself," or as Jones so beautifully put it: "Only after we conquer ourselves can we face others."

This could have easily been just another entry in the endless string of anti-Iraq projects. It could have been another cookie-cutter "find a killer" flick or a typical American story worn thin by repetition.
Haggis skillfully avoided all those traps.
The acting ensemble delivers a massive, heavy-hitting performance. It was great seeing Jones and Sarandon on screen together; I haven't seen them paired up since "The Client." Charlize Theron plays a cop helping Jones out, but she's also helping the whole group—and helping him find himself.
Jones gives one of the best performances I've seen on screen lately, and it actually gets better the less he talks and moves. I remember Theron as this gorgeous blonde girl (I still haven't seen "Monster"), and at first glance, I didn't even recognize her. She's "aged" a bit, "lost" some of that youthful charm, and became truly excellent—nothing like your typical, stereotypical investigator. I have to admit, the most thankless role goes to Sarandon. She’s in very little of the film and mostly just has to mourn or cry, or at least show up looking totally depressed (aside from a few minutes of normal conversation with Jones at the start). But I'd say she handles it perfectly, and thanks to her, the movie avoids getting too sappy.
The film doesn't suffer from filler, rushed pacing, bad acting, awkward music, or lousy dialogue. Everything is exactly where it needs to be. Unlike "Zodiac," which I mentioned earlier, it doesn't struggle with details (even though those served a different purpose there), but it was still interesting to spot—if you were paying attention—a picture of a smiling Bush hanging on the wall during that intense dramatic conversation between Theron and Jones in her office.

I absolutely have to mention that about ten minutes before the end, there's this scene at the confession table. It’s just a series of close-ups without any dialogue, but it’s executed so simply and skillfully that it leaves you speechless—even more than shots that are technically much more difficult in other movies.

This is probably the best drama I've seen at AMC Theatres so far (unless you count "Zodiac," which isn't strictly a drama), and it's definitely one of the best films of the year, right up there with "Zodiac."

I have to say, the ending really got to me. I actually shed a few tears—tears that felt way more earned than the ones I expected from "Damnation," which didn't move me at all. Even though the final scene is predictable, the way the story unfolds combined with the score, including the Puerto Rican influence through Jones, makes it one of the most impactful endings I've seen in recent memory.

Objectively: 9.5/10
Subjectively: 10/10

A must-watch!

And I should add, Ebert is usually high quality, even if he occasionally misses the mark. He rarely opens my eyes because he tends to write about generalities and draws parallels that I could probably draw myself (most of them, anyway). But I always love reading him because you can tell he takes his job seriously. However, this is the only review where he pointed out everything I would have said, and where I agree with him 100%. It's a strange feeling.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...4/-1/REVIEWS01

Personally, I have to admit that the final scene—that last shot of the upside-down American flag—actually made me feel nauseous, and it dropped my rating from a five down to a four. I felt Haggis had already successfully delivered his message in a very simple, direct way earlier on. I don't see the point in that final scene or the heavy-handedness of basically shouting, "What the hell are Americans doing at the end of the world and dying for?!" right in our faces.

That closing moment, while completely foreseeable from the start, feels like total nonsense. But I suppose it was designed to cater to the Academy voters. I’m anticipating a guaranteed screenplay nomination and likely a lead actor nod as well. They should also consider Charlize, who is excellent. Her kid is great too, especially in those two scenes, particularly the one with Tommy where he tells him the story of David and Goliath. Susan Sarandon is predictably pathetic, just like she always is (ugh!).

To wrap things up: Paul Haggis should stick to writing screenplays rather than directing them. When he just writes for someone else to direct, the results are extraordinary (like Letters from Iwo Jima), but when he takes the director's chair himself, it unfortunately settles for being merely "very good" (like Crash or the lost valley).

Rating: 4/5

redowl90 said:Personally, I have to admit that the final scene—that last shot of the upside-down American flag—actually made me feel nauseous, and it dropped my rating from a five down to a four. I felt Haggis had already successfully delivered his message in a very simple, direct way earlier on. I don't see the point in that final scene or the heavy-handedness of basically shouting, "What the hell are Americans doing at the end of the world and dying for?!" right in our faces.

That closing moment, while completely foreseeable from the start, feels like total nonsense. But I suppose it was designed to cater to the Academy voters. I’m anticipating a guaranteed screenplay nomination and likely a lead actor nod as well. They should also consider Charlize, who is excellent. Her kid is great too, especially in those two scenes, particularly the one with Tommy where he tells him the story of David and Goliath. Susan Sarandon is predictably pathetic, just like she always is (ugh!).

To wrap things up: Paul Haggis should stick to writing screenplays rather than directing them. When he just writes for someone else to direct, the results are extraordinary (like Letters from Iwo Jima), but when he takes the director's chair himself, it unfortunately settles for being merely "very good" (like Crash or the lost valley).

Rating: 4/5

- Susan Sarandon doesn't exactly shine, but she did her job decently. Plenty of actresses in her position would have completely botched it, so she played it relatively well (as much as possible).
- You didn't really need to mention the last scene, because even if it isn't huge, it's nice not to spoil the ending. Personally, I didn't find it pathetic at all. To me, it showed the only remaining way Jones could express his frustration and grief. He did it quietly, without all the heavy-handedness, drama, or sentimentality. It was beautiful, and I loved it (even though I also said it was totally predictable). Maybe it's just a Jones thing.

And maybe, since it reminded me a bit of Redford's move in The Last Castle, I'll just take a great role in an equally great movie.

Look, I forgot about the Academy for a second, but actors are definitely in, and the screenplay could easily snag a nomination too. The movie might as well, but I'm rooting for a Zodiac sweep.

At the end of the day, redowl90, it's still a very good film.

Amanda Nguyen5 said:- Susan Sarandon doesn't exactly shine, but she did her job decently. Plenty of actresses in her position would have completely botched it, so she played it relatively well (as much as possible).
- You didn't really need to mention the last scene, because even if it isn't huge, it's nice not to spoil the ending. Personally, I didn't find it pathetic at all. To me, it showed the only remaining way Jones could express his frustration and grief. He did it quietly, without all the heavy-handedness, drama, or sentimentality. It was beautiful, and I loved it (even though I also said it was totally predictable). Maybe it's just a Jones thing.

And maybe, since it reminded me a bit of Redford's move in The Last Castle, I'll just take a great role in an equally great movie.

Look, I forgot about the Academy for a second, but actors are definitely in, and the screenplay could easily snag a nomination too. The movie might as well, but I'm rooting for a Zodiac sweep.

At the end of the day, redowl90, it's still a very good film.

Let's face it, nobody here is actually going to watch this. 90% of the people visiting this site are just waiting for the next Spider-Man, Indiana Jones, or pirate flick. ☕

Amanda Nguyen5 said:- Susan Sarandon doesn't exactly shine, but she did her job decently. Plenty of actresses in her position would have completely botched it, so she played it relatively well (as much as possible).
- You didn't really need to mention the last scene, because even if it isn't huge, it's nice not to spoil the ending. Personally, I didn't find it pathetic at all. To me, it showed the only remaining way Jones could express his frustration and grief. He did it quietly, without all the heavy-handedness, drama, or sentimentality. It was beautiful, and I loved it (even though I also said it was totally predictable). Maybe it's just a Jones thing.

And maybe, since it reminded me a bit of Redford's move in The Last Castle, I'll just take a great role in an equally great movie.

Look, I forgot about the Academy for a second, but actors are definitely in, and the screenplay could easily snag a nomination too. The movie might as well, but I'm rooting for a Zodiac sweep.

At the end of the day, redowl90, it's still a very good film.

Personally, I felt that whole thing was pretty unnecessary, since we had already figured everything out before that scene even played out.

Amanda Nguyen5 said:- Susan Sarandon doesn't exactly shine, but she did her job decently. Plenty of actresses in her position would have completely botched it, so she played it relatively well (as much as possible).
- You didn't really need to mention the last scene, because even if it isn't huge, it's nice not to spoil the ending. Personally, I didn't find it pathetic at all. To me, it showed the only remaining way Jones could express his frustration and grief. He did it quietly, without all the heavy-handedness, drama, or sentimentality. It was beautiful, and I loved it (even though I also said it was totally predictable). Maybe it's just a Jones thing.

And maybe, since it reminded me a bit of Redford's move in The Last Castle, I'll just take a great role in an equally great movie.

Look, I forgot about the Academy for a second, but actors are definitely in, and the screenplay could easily snag a nomination too. The movie might as well, but I'm rooting for a Zodiac sweep.

At the end of the day, redowl90, it's still a very good film.

From your keyboard straight into the Academy's ears, but honestly, I feel like AVP 2 might get a Movie of the Year nod before Fincher ever gets anything for directing.

redowl90 said:Let's face it, nobody here is actually going to watch this. 90% of the people visiting this site are just waiting for the next Spider-Man, Indiana Jones, or pirate flick. ☕

Personally, I felt that whole thing was pretty unnecessary, since we had already figured everything out before that scene even played out.

From your keyboard straight into the Academy's ears, but honestly, I feel like AVP 2 might get a Movie of the Year nod before Fincher ever gets anything for directing.

1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

Amanda Nguyen5 said:1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

I'm waiting for Indiana Jones as well, obviously, but I just wanted to point out that we’re actually in the minority when it comes to the "other" films. Then again, there's a completely different crowd out there: the folks who live for film festivals and gritty indie stuff. But we've already covered that. 🙂

Amanda Nguyen5 said:1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

Based on how you put that, it sounds like the movie shouldn't have even been made, which isn't quite right. It definitely needed to be filmed, especially since we're about to see a wave of anti-war movies. I'm not sure if you've seen Lions for Lambs, but I'd honestly recommend it.

Amanda Nguyen5 said:1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

Did I catch that correctly? You've actually never seen an alien movie? I thought that would be impossible these days, but here we are... To be fair, I still haven't seen Blade Runner either. That's why this five-disc DVD set is so welcome. I can't wait for the weekend. 😍
AVP will probably be garbage to you, but to me, it's a masterpiece. I love that kind of movie: totally casual, no deep message, just pure action from start to finish, mindless fun, and hot women with guns... It's awesome! 👍

Amanda Nguyen5 said:1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

Wait for Anderson and his There Will Be Blood. Now that is a straight-up 10/10.

Amanda Nguyen5 said:1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

I have to do the same thing and it drives me crazy. But hey, life sometimes writes tragic novels.

Amanda Nguyen5 said:1. Look, I’m waiting for Indiana Jones and all that too, but I’ll still go see this. Also, grammar check: it's "are just waiting," not "just waiting." 😁
2. Did you really need to sit through the whole movie to realize what you realized after it? We could do that forever.
3. AVP? Good grief, I didn't even know there was a movie, thought it was just a game. Sure, I'll go do my homework, watch all the Alien movies for the first time, then rewatch Predator, then finally get to AVP... see how that works? You end up learning about AVP on a thread about Haggis. As for Fincher—I think he’s the only director whose film made my top 10 list after the awards, so I’m definitely rooting for him.

Two quick off-topic points:
1. Why can't you quote a quote on this forum? Why doesn't it auto-quote instead of making me manually copy and paste the "/quote" stuff?
2. What day and time did you catch the screening? Was there actually a crowd there?

I saw the film on November 27th at 7:20 PM. There were people there—maybe thirty or so. At the Branimir Center. Why do you ask?

redowl90 said:I'm waiting for Indiana Jones as well, obviously, but I just wanted to point out that we’re actually in the minority when it comes to the "other" films. Then again, there's a completely different crowd out there: the folks who live for film festivals and gritty indie stuff. But we've already covered that. 🙂

Based on how you put that, it sounds like the movie shouldn't have even been made, which isn't quite right. It definitely needed to be filmed, especially since we're about to see a wave of anti-war movies. I'm not sure if you've seen Lions for Lambs, but I'd honestly recommend it.

Did I catch that correctly? You've actually never seen an alien movie? I thought that would be impossible these days, but here we are... To be fair, I still haven't seen Blade Runner either. That's why this five-disc DVD set is so welcome. I can't wait for the weekend. 😍
AVP will probably be garbage to you, but to me, it's a masterpiece. I love that kind of movie: totally casual, no deep message, just pure action from start to finish, mindless fun, and hot women with guns... It's awesome! 👍

Wait for Anderson and his There Will Be Blood. Now that is a straight-up 10/10.

I have to do the same thing and it drives me crazy. But hey, life sometimes writes tragic novels.

I saw the film on November 27th at 7:20 PM. There were people there—maybe thirty or so. At the Branimir Center. Why do you ask?

Exactly what I said.

That’s not what I meant. But look, if a movie can exist without its final scene, then the world can exist without the movie, and space can exist without the world. You get what I'm saying? We could go on like this forever. So, even though you don't see eye to eye with me, I'm sticking to my guns regarding the flag. It's possible. Honestly, I might have just let my emotions get the better of me there. But seriously, anti-war films are bound to happen. It's a cycle. People started writing anti-war stuff right after WWI and again after WWII. It's no surprise that Iraq—even if it's just treated as a "place where wars happen" rather than a specific location—has to have consequences reflected in cinema. I'm definitely going to see Lions for Lambs. Like most of the new stuff hitting theaters, I'll catch it as soon as I have a free moment. I'm hoping to make it out by next Thursday to see Lions and Control. If I have time, maybe I'll even squeeze in Knocked Up or Saw 4. We'll see.

Look, I haven't seen any of the Alien movies, I haven't seen Blade Runner, and I haven't even touched anything by Welles, Hawks, Renoir, Eisenstein, Lubitsch, or Walsh. My "to-watch" list is massive and my free time is tiny, but hey, I’ve got plenty of drive and a whole lot of years ahead of me, so I’m just taking it slow. And honestly? I don't see why I wouldn't like AVP. I love all kinds of stuff. I'd give Transformers 9 a solid 9 or 9.5 out of 10, and Stardust is a 9.5 for me. Taste is a wide-open thing. Sure, you try to be objective whenever you can, but let's be real—sometimes that's just incredibly hard to do.

I was actually getting a little worried that we were stuck with another Wes movie, especially since I haven't seen much of his stuff despite all the hype. But then I saw they’re doing an Anderson film! I’ve actually met him, by the way. I've seen Magnolia—which was absolutely brilliant—and Hard Eight, which was really good too. Everyone seems to have Punch-Drunk Love and Boogie Nights on their must-watch list. Honestly, if I haven't missed anything, I think that's pretty much his whole masterpiece collection right there. Either way, I am definitely going to see this. It'll be my first time seeing an Anderson film on the big screen. I remember watching Magnolia back in Montauk when the rain completely ruined everything—what a total disaster!

5. 😁

Just doing a little field test to see if our theory actually holds up in the real world. On my end, I counted about six people. It was at the AMC Theatres near Top Time around 9:45 PM last night.
So, it’s worth it.

Dammit, just look at point one.😉

See? The movie's been out in theaters for a week now, and it feels like you and I are the only ones who actually caught it. And here we were thinking it was basically the film of the year.
It’s a shame, really. ☕

By the way, this film has only pulled in about two thousand viewers at the box office over the last week. Another disappointment.

Meanwhile, Rush Hour 3 managed to draw in 43,000 people.

Tommy Lee Jones plays a father searching for his son—an American soldier who went missing after returning from Iraq.
A truly great film...

Yeah, I'm with you—really solid movie. Simple premise, but man, it's executed perfectly.

The topic's already been made. A long time ago...

Great movie.
The symbolism and the message are masterfully put together.
What a pleasant surprise to wrap up this week of Oscars.

Only thing is, Susan was a little underwhelming. To be fair, it’s an incredibly thankless role. Tommy looks a lot older, but he’s great. Charlize was excellent.

I finally sat down and watched the film. Having already heard the endless stream of praise surrounding this one, I made a conscious effort to lower my expectations as much as possible. All things considered, it’s a very solid piece of filmmaking, though it does drift into tedious territory at certain points. Personally, I was quite relieved by the lack of action; forced spectacle would have felt entirely out of place here. The narrative splits its focus between the situation in Iraq—viewed through a rather peculiar lens via Tommy's laptop—and the investigation into the murder of Tommy's son. It’s a clever, well-calibrated combination.
The final scene didn't strike me as pathetic in the slightest, yet it feels like an essential piece of the puzzle; it simply belongs there. The underlying message seems to be that America is crying out for help, signaling that their soldiers stationed in Iraq are in jeopardy—that is the sentiment the film aims to convey.
Tommy Lee Jones seems practically tailor-made for this role, whereas Charlize Theron comes across as somewhat hollow and forgettable; I honestly can't fathom why she receives such acclaim. Susan Sarandon is moving, almost poignant, but deeply convincing; many actresses wouldn't be able to portray the desperation of a grieving mother with such authenticity. We also see a brief appearance by Josh Brolin, the star of No Country for Old Men, and I couldn't help but notice how the direction and visual style share a certain DNA with that film. My rating: 8/10

I stumbled upon this movie by complete accident and finally sat down to watch it today.

It’s one of those rare films lately that actually kept my undivided attention from start to finish.
The whole thing is high quality, but what really blew me away was the direction. It’s subtle, tight, zero filler, and incredibly suggestive—building the story through fine threads without any unnecessary showboating.
Haggis also delivered an equally stellar script, from the dialogue down to the character development.
Even though people were questioning whether "Fatal Accident" deserved its Best Picture Oscar (it totally did, in my opinion, and it's a much better film than the overly dramatic "Brokeback Mountain"), I think this movie proves his success wasn't just a fluke.
A lot of the weight falls on the actors, who gave it their all to create characters that feel incredibly real without ever veering into melodrama.
Tommy Lee Jones delivers a powerful performance, which is pretty much his standard, but the real surprises for me were Charlize Theron and Jason Patric.
In my eyes, Theron gave her best performance here (even better than in "monster"), while Patric played it minimalist, yet managed to create a character made of blood and bone.

If you get the chance, definitely check it out.