You know how you read a book then go to see the movie and you're always disappointed? Well, Lord of the Rings is the most breathtaking piece of fiction I have ever read, arguably the most breathtaking ever written. When I saw the film, I was, astonishingly, not disappointed. I was awestruck. That anyone could take on such an ambitious project with such glorious results, especially given the material that needed to trimmed to keep it under 12 hours, is a tribute to there still being talent in the film industry. I won't go into describing the film; there are comments enough here already. I have never given a movie a vote of 10. Until now. This comment is essentially to enact that vote, and to speculate that its detractors have never seen it, or upon seeing it, didn't know what they were seeing.
Reviews
2 Reviews
The Cold Light of Day
(1996)
A psychological study of a police investigator
9 December 1999
Less satisfying than "Silence of the Lambs," but nevertheless haunting, suspenseful, and worth a rental. It was one of those that stayed with me.
At heart, it is the psychological study of an ex-cop (Grant)trying to balance two opposing aspects: his compulsion to apprehend a child killer and his growing love for a woman (Baxter) and her young daughter (Weeks). The struggle forces him to confront his own limitations, the denial of which leads to the climax and possible tragedy. This is paralleled by Baxter's convincing portrayal of a mother vacillating between suspicion and trust, fear and love.
The film subtly but effectively sexualizes the daughter to give us glimpse of childhood through the psychopath's eyes, a technique which sharpens and crystallizes both the plot and mood. Unfortunately, the psychological study of the killer, though ample, seems week and would have benefited from more attention by the writer.
At heart, it is the psychological study of an ex-cop (Grant)trying to balance two opposing aspects: his compulsion to apprehend a child killer and his growing love for a woman (Baxter) and her young daughter (Weeks). The struggle forces him to confront his own limitations, the denial of which leads to the climax and possible tragedy. This is paralleled by Baxter's convincing portrayal of a mother vacillating between suspicion and trust, fear and love.
The film subtly but effectively sexualizes the daughter to give us glimpse of childhood through the psychopath's eyes, a technique which sharpens and crystallizes both the plot and mood. Unfortunately, the psychological study of the killer, though ample, seems week and would have benefited from more attention by the writer.
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