I read the script before the movie came out. I found it to be very tight, yet had clichés that bugged me, but there were a lot of touching moments. Then I saw the film.
If this film is not a catalyst for thought provoking conversations, then we have really, truly, lost our humanity. This is truly adult entertainment, and I am very impressed with all the actors involved, especially Ludicrous. I really respected what he brought to the screen, so maybe people shouldn't be so hard on Hip Hop artists turning to acting. Terrence Howard was riveting, as was the actor who played Daniel Perez with such compassion. It was nice to see Thandie Newton acting in a relationship with a black character. I never see her paired up with black male actors in screen "relationships". Ryan Phillipe and Matt Dillon were great..like I said, all the actors brought their "A" game to the table. The only bad part of the film is Sandra Bullock's character. She has a "Driving Miss Daisy" moment with her character where she tells the Mexican housekeeper that she's her "only Friend" when all through the movie she talks to the woman and treats her like sh*t, and there is no reaction from the housekeeper, not even a reaction shot! That rang very false and is one of the weakest links in the script and movie.
Paul Haggis and Don Cheadle (one of the producers of the film!) should be very proud of the work. I was. It gives me hope. And the next time someone cuts me off in L.A. traffic again, I won't be so quick to judge. We all have bad days.
If this film is not a catalyst for thought provoking conversations, then we have really, truly, lost our humanity. This is truly adult entertainment, and I am very impressed with all the actors involved, especially Ludicrous. I really respected what he brought to the screen, so maybe people shouldn't be so hard on Hip Hop artists turning to acting. Terrence Howard was riveting, as was the actor who played Daniel Perez with such compassion. It was nice to see Thandie Newton acting in a relationship with a black character. I never see her paired up with black male actors in screen "relationships". Ryan Phillipe and Matt Dillon were great..like I said, all the actors brought their "A" game to the table. The only bad part of the film is Sandra Bullock's character. She has a "Driving Miss Daisy" moment with her character where she tells the Mexican housekeeper that she's her "only Friend" when all through the movie she talks to the woman and treats her like sh*t, and there is no reaction from the housekeeper, not even a reaction shot! That rang very false and is one of the weakest links in the script and movie.
Paul Haggis and Don Cheadle (one of the producers of the film!) should be very proud of the work. I was. It gives me hope. And the next time someone cuts me off in L.A. traffic again, I won't be so quick to judge. We all have bad days.