I watched this yesterday for the first time, not having ever known this film existed before - which is weird, given that it's directed by Martin Scorsese; and, while relatively modern, it's a gritty, almost guerrilla-film in style, much closer to Scorsese's 1980s films than the glitzy, clean + crisp films of the last 2 decades.
It tells the story of Nicolas Cage's character, Frank, who is a young, hopeful paramedic, now completely burned out by the horrible nightshift ambulance work he does day-in-day-out. Next to him, other similarly cursed characters. There is (John Goodman), who has long since accepted his slide into futile existance, as a coping mechanism. There is (Tom Sizemore), who is driven to acts of violence by the hate he has for the lowlife they treat. And oh boy, Scorsese really hammers home that these are subhuman people.
But, BOTD does not take the moral high ground, it won't preach "should we help the helpless", but rather depicts Frank's search for salvation, but at the same time telling us that, he might just not get it. This isn't a fable.
I am going to be honest and say, that this isn't a masterpiece. But, it's a nice little film, with little scope, but it will run those 90 minutes without a hitch and, occasionally, even make you feel some emotion - do you remember feeling emotions?
My vote: a honest 7/10 - not great, but reasonable.
NOTE: Nicolas Cage can act, but we forgot that. Here's your chance to see him work properly, if that's nt worth your time, i don't know what is.
It tells the story of Nicolas Cage's character, Frank, who is a young, hopeful paramedic, now completely burned out by the horrible nightshift ambulance work he does day-in-day-out. Next to him, other similarly cursed characters. There is (John Goodman), who has long since accepted his slide into futile existance, as a coping mechanism. There is (Tom Sizemore), who is driven to acts of violence by the hate he has for the lowlife they treat. And oh boy, Scorsese really hammers home that these are subhuman people.
But, BOTD does not take the moral high ground, it won't preach "should we help the helpless", but rather depicts Frank's search for salvation, but at the same time telling us that, he might just not get it. This isn't a fable.
I am going to be honest and say, that this isn't a masterpiece. But, it's a nice little film, with little scope, but it will run those 90 minutes without a hitch and, occasionally, even make you feel some emotion - do you remember feeling emotions?
My vote: a honest 7/10 - not great, but reasonable.
NOTE: Nicolas Cage can act, but we forgot that. Here's your chance to see him work properly, if that's nt worth your time, i don't know what is.