adonis98-743-186503
Based on the actual events of the West Memphis Three, where three young boys were savagely murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. Spurred on by the demand from a grieving town, the local police act quickly to bring three "devil-worshipping" teenagers to trial. With their lives hanging in the balance, investigator Ron Lax is trying to find the truth between the town's need for justice and the guilt of the accused. I think that Devil's Knot (2013) is a very complex film for a very complex story that although it does kinda do justice to it's story it misses the point to other areas, Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon are really good in their roles especially Reese as the grieving mother but everyone else besides them is just alright especially her husband Terry played by Alessandro Nivola feels kinda miscasted and except maybe one or two scenes where he shows some emotion for the rest of the film he is actually a robot, the Hobbs also had a little girl a 2nd child in general but we only see her and hear about her in the entire film only 3 times and that is kinda disappointing it actually makes the parents look like the "bad people" of the story since they hardly ever seen with her that just makes you wonder of who feeds her, dresses her and with who she stays with when her Parents aren't home. But although flawed the movie has some redeeming moments such as the leads, the interesting story, the court room scenes that were pretty good into building the story and the puzzles and a chilling ending that just makes you wish that you knew more about the true events of the film more. Overall this is a film that does it's job quite well but if you expect another "Prisoners" kind of thriller? Expect to be disappointed. (8/10)
paul david
Like most films of this kind, it is a film based on a true story which happened in Arkansas in 1993. I am English and until watching this film, I had never heard of this story. However, some, if not many, might regard this right up there for notoriety with crimes put to movies such as Ted Bundy and others in the pipeline such as Madeleine McCann and Amanda Knox-Meredith Kercher.This was a complicated story-line to absorb without knowing the story first and I took the chance to research it a little afterwards. Certainly the film focuses a great deal on Colin Firth as Ron Lax and Reese Witherspoon as Pamela Hobbs in the leading roles but it shows little light (perhaps as in the Knox-Kercher case which is still fresh in our minds) that the Arkansas wanted 'closure' and quickly and they set out fabricating a case against the three guys which only serves to show the sheer ineptitude of American justice or of any civilised country for that matter.No real acting is required by Colin Firth, he just plays the part while Reese Witherspoon does step up as the emotional Mum grieving her lost Son. The background to the parenting of the three lost boys is not explained in this film.I find it incredible that the film did not throw more light on the apparent satanic cult which was prevalent in that area at that particular time and which, had that been investigated and questions asked of those who were involved, just as in the McCann case in Portugal from 2007, there is the possibility that the crimes committed could be solved in a professional manner rather than left for people to comment and judge by social media in the present climate following release of the new evidence and the ultimate release of the three convicts in 2011.I cannot say I enjoyed this film. It is definitely not a film to enjoy but I wonder whether the film could have carried a more subtle focus for a more connecting audience. 20 years on, I sense the film was made for financial reasons but who are the beneficiaries?
SnoopyStyle
This is based on the real story of the murder three boys in 1993 West Memphis, Arkansas. Pam (Reese Witherspoon) and Terry Hobbs (Alessandro Nivola) lose her son Stevie. Along with Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore, the boys are brutally murdered in a local wooded area called Devil's Knot. Jessie Misskelley confesses. Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin are implicated. All three teens are charged for the boy's murder with the police claiming a demonic ritual. Ron Lax (Colin Firth) is a private investigator who becomes obsessed and volunteers to help the defense.I understand the resistance to this movie but director Atom Egoyan faces some difficulties due to the real story. Most people would say that the real killer has never been found. While people who still claim that the 3 teens killed the boys would find this movie, like the documentaries, very bias. Atom could have faked a killer like Oliver Stone's JFK with the black man in Bojangles or Terry Hobbs. What he gives in this movie is doubt. The person that personifies this is Reese Witherspoon with her amazing performance. First, Atom is able to nail the overwhelming sadness like he did in 'The Sweet Hereafter'. I'm also impressed that Atom didn't go out of his way to demonize the police. The scene with Detective Bryn Ridge getting Pam Hobbs' hair is so powerful and shows the pressure of the job. It is easy for arm-chair jury members watching the docs to ridicule the real-life jury and hate the cops. What this movie shows is how reasonable people could be so wrong and how easy things like this could happen with some poor police work.
SteveMiller_MovieReviews
Paradise Lost documented the story of three child murders in West Memphis, Arkansas. The Devils Knot goes on to dramatise and become the 'Hollywood' version and sadly falls flat. The case was so complex and difficult to take in that a running time of under 2 hours both fails to make you empathise with any character or help you to make up your mind as what you think the truth is. I really feel this was an opportunity missed as it is probably one of the most intriguing and complex cases ever with its possible injustice, combined with very credible other suspects that a lay person could easily connect with the murders. Overall it just fails to deliver on most fronts and will do nothing for viewers who are new to the case and adds very little to those who know it well. I feel it may well be picked up again by someone else in the future but requires a lot more attention and running time to really get it right.
AD
