Solid performances and excellent acting empower this quality film. A camouflaged Film Noir at it's heart... Blu-ray: Very Sharp A:10 V:10

lathe-of-heaven

score 8/10

I will admit, that I nearly missed the point of this film. After seeing as many movies as I have, I feel embarrassed that I almost let this one slip right by me...

Where I REALLY began to appreciate the depth and quality of the film was AFTER I finished watching it and while watching the commentary. I think what fooled me at first was that although there DEFINITELY is a strong undercurrent and ponderous mood to the movie, on the surface, I was starting to think that maybe there was a little too much Dramatic 'Realism' for my taste. Thankfully, I stayed with it though and I'm glad I did because it turned out to be a more deeply involving film than I had thought.

While watching the commentary and listening to the many different aspects to how the story was written and then how the dialog and structure were continuously tuned throughout the film, and how meticulous the lighting and editing were employed and how bloody much WORK went into it, I REALLY started to appreciate much more fully just how good it was.

BUT... even surpassing all the technical excellence was the sublime quality of the acting. These were quite honestly some of the very best performances as a group that I have seen in quite a while. i'm not particularly a Tom Hardy fan, but the masterful way he completely embodied the subtle nuances of his character was most impressive. But, to add even more to the effect, just about all the rest of the performances were outstanding too. From the deliciously perfect James Gandolfini to the chilling performances by Matthias & Michael Aronov, all were WAY above average. The level of quality by so many in the same film really leaves a powerful impression. What I liked about the Deeds character (Matthias) was that I cannot remember the last time I saw a bad guy convey such a genuine mental imbalance, to the point where even in the commentary, the writer says that you sort of feel a little sorry for him. Quite a feat... and Aronov was truly spellbinding; he kind of reminded me of what an idealized Robert De Niro might have been like when he was at his very, VERY best. His understatement was sublime. The way he paused and looked at others when he spoke was amazing.

Actually, I think it was the strength of the acting itself which threw me off at first. Because the performances were so strong, I was starting to think that this was just a glorified 'Realistic' Drama, which is not really my most favourite Genre. So, at the very beginning I nearly jumped to the wrong conclusion, and I almost didn't finish watching it. But, I am SO bloody thankful that I did. Because, once I realized the SUBTLETY of the performances and the deeper meaning underneath everything, then I really began to enjoy it. That is likely why you see some reviews here that say things like, 'Boring, Boring, Boring...', etc... Fortunately, I hung around long enough to enjoy a very well made and effective Crime / Drama with more depth than most films of this type.

And, like I mentioned before, my appreciation of the quality of the film and the underlying meaning deepened considerably while watching the commentary by the director and the writer. That is why MANY here mention how true Movie Lovers (and makers) will appreciate this film.

So, don't make the mistake that I almost made, and make sure to sit back and really pay attention to the SUBTLE nuances and details of the film and enjoy these wonderful, rich characterizations which give so much more depth than is usually seen in these types of stories.

lathe-of-heaven 2 April 2015

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3212799/