One of the best films I saw made last year. I would put it in my top 5 of movies for that year and it might go even higher as the years go on and I see more movies made that year. This movie didn't leave my mind for weeks after I saw it as it stayed there turning around and around while I thought about the different aspects and themes that made it so good. I don't normally see a movie this focused or this good. It had a very old school feel to it and I mean that in the highest compliment possible.
It was so refreshing to see a character based movie where the characters stayed true to their character and didn't deviate from their central core. Many movies now-a-days haven't grasped this concept of characters being true to who they are instead of changing their true self for plot motivated reasons that are illogical and absolutely stupid. There is none of this here as these are some of the best characters I've seen in a movie in a long time. They let reason and logic influence their decisions and don't let emotions and feelings cloud things but when emotions and feelings do cloud things they are quick to realize that is happening. In effect they act normal, rational people. Then you through into the mix some good actors who really help to bring these characters to life and by good actors I mean every character in this movie is inhabited by a good actor. There is no great acting on display here but there doesn't need to be as these actors more than compensate for no "A" list actor and this movie all the better for it. Every scene is like a master class in acting and aren't just thrown into the movie for the sake of being there as they further expand on each character.
This movie has a minimalist feel to it as it doesn't get carried away with special effects, production design, or super crazy editing. Many of scenes are shot on location or at least seem like they are shot on location which adds the effect of being immersed in the scene without anything flashy to get into the way. The actors respond to this approach with such greatness as they whole heartily give their best level of performance.
The characters and story are the star of this movie with a director who understands this and doesn't get in the way of what is happening. I could tell with each frame and scene of this movie that he had complete faith in the story, characters, and screenplay. Then he also had complete faith in his casting and the actors he hired to populate the movie. Like I said above I don't find many movies with this much faith - most movies rely on cheap gimmicks, special effects, or soap opera story telling to hide the poor story or screenplay. Not this movie.
It was also refreshing to see a movie that supported marriage between a man a woman. Many movies seem to get on a political platform about marriage now-a-days, so it was good to see a movie that bucked that tread and instead was forth right in marriage. Not a perfect marriage but then what marriage is perfect? But it is a marriage where the two people are in love with enough scenes to convey this message without being preachy with hyperbole.
As my brother pointed out about this movie - the violence in this movie happens fast and brutal. There is no long drawn out Hollywood style of fight scenes here - when the action and violence happen it movies quickly, with such brutality that it further empathizes the reality this movie is supporting.
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