7/10
Flawed yet funny
4 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I just watched a recording of this movie that I had made from IFC or Sundance. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised and disappointed by the film. For anyone who has ever tried to write a black comedy, it is one of the hardest genres out there to try and pull off. There is the risk of not being dark enough or not being funny enough. there is also the risk that a black comedy about a controversial subject will alienate a large portion of the potential audience. The film had a few genuinely brilliant moments but they never seemed to work together particularly well. The acting was strong by indie film standards, particularly for a movie that placed a large emphasis on quirky characters. Tucker was excellent as the main character, a man who could move from meek to menacing seamlessly. Ginnifer Goodwin came off as a bit over the top at times but her performance near the end of the film made up for a few issues near the beginning. Jeremy Renner plays serial killers well, though this character lacked the depth of the man he played in Dahmer. If there was one major problem I had with the film, it was that it never really took a vocal stance on the death penalty.

Overall, this is a movie that is worth watching if you have the time and nothing else better on the Tivo.
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