derivative and frustratingly dumb
Based on some early reviews I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. I was ultimately very disappointed.Starting on a positive note, Surveillance is very expertly shot, and is beautiful to look at. However, on almost every other account it fails miserably. The first two acts are simply boring and annoying, mostly because of the quote-unquote "weird" characters. The people populating this story on paper might have looked interesting, seeing them acted out, however, just goes to show how incredibly difficult it is to create really interesting dramatic characters. These people act and behave like no human being would, just for the sake of being weird or unusual. The plot also progresses in a very leisurely manner. Then the third act comes, where events go from boring to completely nonsensical. The obligatory twist is just dumb beyond belief.
Then the acting - geez, I don't think any of the actors should put this one in their resume. Bill Pulman, bringing his best "constipated De Niro" impersonation, is the worst offender. In the last act he overacts on a disastrous level, to a point where one wishes a meteor would fall from the sky and put him out of his misery. It has to be the most cringe-worthy, embarrassing episode of his career. But the rest of the cast also do their best to follow his lead. When will Hollywood learn that psychotic killers do not necessarily behave and talk like Jim Carrey on PCP? I've seen worse films in 2008 but given the talent involved I didn't think Surveillance would be such a painful experience to sit through. Avoid this stinker.
score 1/10
krigler 2 January 2009
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2000146/35634
Pages:
[1]