It's predictable that critics would fall all over themselves praising a Scorcese film telling an important story. But based on the first two hours, which is all of this I've been able to slog through, Scorcese is telling the story very badly.
What makes this especially aggravating is any decent editor could vastly improve this movie. Because there's a compelling story and some solid moments, like the courtship scenes. But every brief, effective moment in the movie is counterbalanced with long, static conversations.
This, seriously, is most of the movie. People sitting and talking. It feels like the actors were told the outlines of the discussion and then just did an improv chat, being cautioned to speak methodically. And then it wasn't edited. At all. So these dialogue sections are endless.
They're also very tedious. Part of the problem is they often talk around in circles. This may be an attempt to portray the gangster approach of not saying things directly, but I doubt racist conspiracists were that subtle. Even if they were, it doesn't change the way the movie drags to a halt.
This movie is 3 1/2 hours long for absolutely no good reason. It's just Scorsese indulging his worst directorial tendencies.
If Scorsese punched a film critic in the face for four hours they would declare that a work of genius. Don't be fooled. This is not a good movie.
What makes this especially aggravating is any decent editor could vastly improve this movie. Because there's a compelling story and some solid moments, like the courtship scenes. But every brief, effective moment in the movie is counterbalanced with long, static conversations.
This, seriously, is most of the movie. People sitting and talking. It feels like the actors were told the outlines of the discussion and then just did an improv chat, being cautioned to speak methodically. And then it wasn't edited. At all. So these dialogue sections are endless.
They're also very tedious. Part of the problem is they often talk around in circles. This may be an attempt to portray the gangster approach of not saying things directly, but I doubt racist conspiracists were that subtle. Even if they were, it doesn't change the way the movie drags to a halt.
This movie is 3 1/2 hours long for absolutely no good reason. It's just Scorsese indulging his worst directorial tendencies.
If Scorsese punched a film critic in the face for four hours they would declare that a work of genius. Don't be fooled. This is not a good movie.