One can immediately tell that this film was made very early in Pitt's career and it makes one appreciate how far Brad Pitt has come in his acting ability.
For those who love Pitt simply for his looks, sorry, but we don't even get to see him, in the flesh, for the first half of the film. Pitt's character has a skin disorder that makes him sensitive to all light. Outside, he wears a complete leather suit that covers all of his body (barring eyes and breathing holes). Inside, he sits in near complete darkness. Pitt's character tires of living this type of life and decides to risk death by walking outside without his leather protection. At this point we get to see a young Brad Pitt act, which isn't all that well. The improvement one sees in Pitt's acting ability becomes very clear when one compares Pitt's performance in Dark Side of the Sun to films like 12 Monkeys or Se7en.
Dark Side of the Sun is not a horrible film, it just has a very simple story. Boy is ill. Boy lives life as best he can. One day, boy meets girl. Boy decides to risk death for girl. Not much else really happens that makes this film stand-out from this cliche story-line. If it had just a bit more character development so that we might actually feel something for Pitt's character or his ever-loving father, the film might have been more interesting.
Considering this is Pitt's first film, he's not that bad. Even at this early stage, it's difficult to take one's eyes from the screen whenever Pitt is present. Pitt has a very strong screen presence that has helped make him a star. But sadly, I feel the film relied a bit too much on this weak story-line and on Pitt to carry the film.
If Pitt or anyone else were to do this film today in a more "Hollywood" style, it might actually be a good "tear-jerker". However, as is, I would state that this is a film best left for fans of Pitt. Anyone else would probably find this film poorly acted, written and directed. I give this film a 4/10.
For those who love Pitt simply for his looks, sorry, but we don't even get to see him, in the flesh, for the first half of the film. Pitt's character has a skin disorder that makes him sensitive to all light. Outside, he wears a complete leather suit that covers all of his body (barring eyes and breathing holes). Inside, he sits in near complete darkness. Pitt's character tires of living this type of life and decides to risk death by walking outside without his leather protection. At this point we get to see a young Brad Pitt act, which isn't all that well. The improvement one sees in Pitt's acting ability becomes very clear when one compares Pitt's performance in Dark Side of the Sun to films like 12 Monkeys or Se7en.
Dark Side of the Sun is not a horrible film, it just has a very simple story. Boy is ill. Boy lives life as best he can. One day, boy meets girl. Boy decides to risk death for girl. Not much else really happens that makes this film stand-out from this cliche story-line. If it had just a bit more character development so that we might actually feel something for Pitt's character or his ever-loving father, the film might have been more interesting.
Considering this is Pitt's first film, he's not that bad. Even at this early stage, it's difficult to take one's eyes from the screen whenever Pitt is present. Pitt has a very strong screen presence that has helped make him a star. But sadly, I feel the film relied a bit too much on this weak story-line and on Pitt to carry the film.
If Pitt or anyone else were to do this film today in a more "Hollywood" style, it might actually be a good "tear-jerker". However, as is, I would state that this is a film best left for fans of Pitt. Anyone else would probably find this film poorly acted, written and directed. I give this film a 4/10.