If this is his directorial debut I am expecting big things to come from Mr Saddler in the future. This film is thought provoking, and as a previous reviewer says, it stays with you for a while. You are not left comfortable at all, which is a good thing. The thought of being on the wrong side of that cell door (shudder).
However, Mr Saddler does not ram any particular view he may have down your throat at all. He is not drawn into making the plot overly political (if at all) or sentimental. The film just plays out the story, very well with well above average performances from the two leads. It is a very thin tightrope well traversed. Let the story do the talking and good for him for playing it out in that fashion.
I have to say I don't quite rate Miss Stewart as an particular draw to any film I see, I don't think she has a good 'range', but she is really stepping up her acting performances with the likes of Adventureland, Still Alice and this. She is obviously trying and I applaud that. She could have quite easily played puff pieces for years after Twilight and taken the money. I really don't think she does the above projects for $$$. If she is taking the 'one for the bank, one for me' approach then good for her.
Back to the film. I am stunned at the R rating it has over in the US. Why? I have seen FAR worse films with a lesser rating that I wouldn't want sub 17 year olds seeing, but this....I would want every 14+ year old to see. Get their little grey cells thinking. I must have a short memory as I can neither remember any overt nudity or 'excessive' swearing. If there were lots of bad words it is a credit to the film that I didn't notice and it must have instead added to the characters portrayal. It is a shame as I would have imagined the R rating would have put off many seeing it at the Cinema.
A very odd decision.
So, this has been on my list for a while and I am glad I ticked it off. A Summer blockbuster it isn't. But it will have me keeping an eye out for future projects by both the Director and Miss Twilight.
However, Mr Saddler does not ram any particular view he may have down your throat at all. He is not drawn into making the plot overly political (if at all) or sentimental. The film just plays out the story, very well with well above average performances from the two leads. It is a very thin tightrope well traversed. Let the story do the talking and good for him for playing it out in that fashion.
I have to say I don't quite rate Miss Stewart as an particular draw to any film I see, I don't think she has a good 'range', but she is really stepping up her acting performances with the likes of Adventureland, Still Alice and this. She is obviously trying and I applaud that. She could have quite easily played puff pieces for years after Twilight and taken the money. I really don't think she does the above projects for $$$. If she is taking the 'one for the bank, one for me' approach then good for her.
Back to the film. I am stunned at the R rating it has over in the US. Why? I have seen FAR worse films with a lesser rating that I wouldn't want sub 17 year olds seeing, but this....I would want every 14+ year old to see. Get their little grey cells thinking. I must have a short memory as I can neither remember any overt nudity or 'excessive' swearing. If there were lots of bad words it is a credit to the film that I didn't notice and it must have instead added to the characters portrayal. It is a shame as I would have imagined the R rating would have put off many seeing it at the Cinema.
A very odd decision.
So, this has been on my list for a while and I am glad I ticked it off. A Summer blockbuster it isn't. But it will have me keeping an eye out for future projects by both the Director and Miss Twilight.