Creepy, vile, and compelling.
It's horribly dark and almost impossible up watch. Definitely not a date movie. I feel filthy and dirty after being in its presence. Yet forced to confront the degree to which I live only for my own compulsions at the price of those I hold dear.
A very hard work to digest, with, unfortunately, a major let down of an ending. After dragging you though the muck for nearly two hours, you're left hanging.
Perhaps "Rampart's" greatest strength is in providing a very accurate example, without being preachy, of what a person's life will become when he/she shuts out all the people around them and lives only for him/herself and his/her compulsions.
"Rampart" can easily serve as mandatory viewing for anyone dealing with addiction in any one of its multifaceted forms. Perhaps by witnessing such an extreme case as is portrayed in this film, the viewer can see the necessity for redemption. The consequences of not doing so resulting in the spiral into self-destruction that Woody Harrelson's character experiences in this film.
Wonderfully acted by all involved who elevate this film beyond its own meanderings. Anne Heche's character has a delicious scene at the end where she just gets to nail Harrelson but good. That must have been a lot of fun for her. And terrific work from the young actress playing Harrelson's daughter.
A very troubling film but one that deserves major props for originality. I think it took a lot of bravery to make a film like this that is in a way such and anti-film. It's amazing something as difficult and unrewarding for the viewer as this film is could get made in today's climate of pandering to focus groups, etc.
Still this film does kind of suck. But it kinda sucks for all the right reasons. It sucks because it's not "Training Day" or "Bad Lieutenant". It's not some thrill-ride, wish-fulfillment fantasy of how much fun it would be to be a bad-ass cop who goes out with a bang in the end. Nor is it a dramatic recreation of real life events to better understand a moment of historical significance. Yet, this film is the real deal. If it weren't for the striking cinematography, and terrific acting work from recognizable faces you'd swear you were watching a documentary.
I suppose that's why I'm left hanging at the end. And I suppose I'm alright with that. Kudos!
It's horribly dark and almost impossible up watch. Definitely not a date movie. I feel filthy and dirty after being in its presence. Yet forced to confront the degree to which I live only for my own compulsions at the price of those I hold dear.
A very hard work to digest, with, unfortunately, a major let down of an ending. After dragging you though the muck for nearly two hours, you're left hanging.
Perhaps "Rampart's" greatest strength is in providing a very accurate example, without being preachy, of what a person's life will become when he/she shuts out all the people around them and lives only for him/herself and his/her compulsions.
"Rampart" can easily serve as mandatory viewing for anyone dealing with addiction in any one of its multifaceted forms. Perhaps by witnessing such an extreme case as is portrayed in this film, the viewer can see the necessity for redemption. The consequences of not doing so resulting in the spiral into self-destruction that Woody Harrelson's character experiences in this film.
Wonderfully acted by all involved who elevate this film beyond its own meanderings. Anne Heche's character has a delicious scene at the end where she just gets to nail Harrelson but good. That must have been a lot of fun for her. And terrific work from the young actress playing Harrelson's daughter.
A very troubling film but one that deserves major props for originality. I think it took a lot of bravery to make a film like this that is in a way such and anti-film. It's amazing something as difficult and unrewarding for the viewer as this film is could get made in today's climate of pandering to focus groups, etc.
Still this film does kind of suck. But it kinda sucks for all the right reasons. It sucks because it's not "Training Day" or "Bad Lieutenant". It's not some thrill-ride, wish-fulfillment fantasy of how much fun it would be to be a bad-ass cop who goes out with a bang in the end. Nor is it a dramatic recreation of real life events to better understand a moment of historical significance. Yet, this film is the real deal. If it weren't for the striking cinematography, and terrific acting work from recognizable faces you'd swear you were watching a documentary.
I suppose that's why I'm left hanging at the end. And I suppose I'm alright with that. Kudos!