**Warning! Spoiler Information Inside**
I have to admit the crowd rubbernecking the implied disaster this film was is what got my attention. After viewing this is my Review.
The DVD case has , well, "commentary" from industry insider individuals and media,that gives one the strong impression this film may be only a one star visual piece of celluloid worth viewing on "mute". Was this an attempt to lower audience expectation of the film? I cannot confirm. The special features section comes off as the actors clearly supporting their leader in this case Director Susanne Bier. Marketing Ploy? I am not certain.
Here is what I am certain of after three consecutive viewings. The only person at fault for the way this film turned out is Susanne Bier. After watching Jennifer Lawrence act this film with Brad Cooper , I can see, if she has a film career modeled after early professional male/female parings like William Powell and Myrna Loy , why she has pursed Cooper. If she is right, this film and many others will prove that truth in hindsight review. The performances of this team , for this film are as good as can be expected for this film. Toby Jones and Ryhs Ifans are good support. There is no interruption of the suspension of disbelief in this movie.
The Writing is fine , there really is nothing out of the ordinary for a piece set in this time, in fact there are some surprisingly deep areas of specificity that are enjoyable. The Character modeling is also up to scratch, not Oscar worthy but not a fail either.
The Flow is dreadful. it is a victim of this films fatal flaw. That either by editing or by the simple inability of the Director to capture one ioda of expression or moral emotion by lens, it completely undermines the entire project. I was in three viewings unable to generate one ounce for caring for Bradley Cooper as he faced the fact that his wife was attempting to kill his child in earnest. I have seen bad actors, this fail was not Cooper's or Lawrence's (who I thought gave her best sequence in that production , at that moment)fault acting wise.
For what ever reason technical or otherwise the project is unable to inspire the viewer through any available modern cinematic technique. When it comes to that broad of a failure the leader is to blame. I believe that Susanne Bier is capable of filming complex subjects of intense moral contradiction and stress. This film was a flat miss.
A good study on the importance of direction in film.
Two Stars(of 5)
I have to admit the crowd rubbernecking the implied disaster this film was is what got my attention. After viewing this is my Review.
The DVD case has , well, "commentary" from industry insider individuals and media,that gives one the strong impression this film may be only a one star visual piece of celluloid worth viewing on "mute". Was this an attempt to lower audience expectation of the film? I cannot confirm. The special features section comes off as the actors clearly supporting their leader in this case Director Susanne Bier. Marketing Ploy? I am not certain.
Here is what I am certain of after three consecutive viewings. The only person at fault for the way this film turned out is Susanne Bier. After watching Jennifer Lawrence act this film with Brad Cooper , I can see, if she has a film career modeled after early professional male/female parings like William Powell and Myrna Loy , why she has pursed Cooper. If she is right, this film and many others will prove that truth in hindsight review. The performances of this team , for this film are as good as can be expected for this film. Toby Jones and Ryhs Ifans are good support. There is no interruption of the suspension of disbelief in this movie.
The Writing is fine , there really is nothing out of the ordinary for a piece set in this time, in fact there are some surprisingly deep areas of specificity that are enjoyable. The Character modeling is also up to scratch, not Oscar worthy but not a fail either.
The Flow is dreadful. it is a victim of this films fatal flaw. That either by editing or by the simple inability of the Director to capture one ioda of expression or moral emotion by lens, it completely undermines the entire project. I was in three viewings unable to generate one ounce for caring for Bradley Cooper as he faced the fact that his wife was attempting to kill his child in earnest. I have seen bad actors, this fail was not Cooper's or Lawrence's (who I thought gave her best sequence in that production , at that moment)fault acting wise.
For what ever reason technical or otherwise the project is unable to inspire the viewer through any available modern cinematic technique. When it comes to that broad of a failure the leader is to blame. I believe that Susanne Bier is capable of filming complex subjects of intense moral contradiction and stress. This film was a flat miss.
A good study on the importance of direction in film.
Two Stars(of 5)