Adam Warner
I stumbled blindly onto this on Netflix, saw it had Tommy Lee Jones in it and figured I enjoy just about anything he touches. Low and behold, I was delightful impressed by this.This tragic story about a detective investigating a murder is just pure intensity. But it's not action film intensity, it's the intensity of the pursuit of justice. So much unfortunate murders, innocents forced and the power brokers not caring about anyone else but themselves and their own fortune. There are only a few shows I've watched where I felt like I could feel what it's like to be in the part of the country where it was filmed, and this is without a doubt one of them. The deep, dark, sultry bowels of Louisiana. Stunning landscapes, intense humidity, mosquito's almost as big as the ones in Northern Minnesota, just breathtaking location filming. Moody without being over-dramatic, enriching and intricate plot and story.This may have been an accidental find, but I'm sure glad I stumbled onto it. Wonderful movie, highly recommended.
SnoopyStyle
Lt. Dave Robicheaux (Tommy Lee Jones) is investigating a dead body found by movie stars Elrod Sykes (Peter Sarsgaard) and his girlfriend Kelly Drummond (Kelly Macdonald). They're filming a Civil War film. Robicheaux is reminded of a black man he saw murdered as a teen.There are a lot of great actors trying to play southern. Director Bertrand Tavernier just doesn't have the skills to bring an intensity to the movie. He also doesn't have the touch to bring out the local flavors. That might be all the big Hollywood actors, and the unimaginative locations. The closest he gets is casting Buddy Guy and having him play some music. The story is a slow prodding march. The clues aren't illuminating to solve the murder mystery. The only good thing here is watching Tommy Lee Jones in action. At the end of the movie, I wasn't even sure who they're after.
Tim Kidner
So many reviews here that were so poles apart, actively deriding or applauding it, that they made my head spin! It's only a film, I told myself...Tommy Lee Jones, as most agree is a well known and very capable actor that always adds a certain sincerity and stability to a film, these days. Reliable is an over-used word, that often just means boring.The film, which was shown recently on BBC2 and which I recorded, starts as it means to go on, sure-footed and slowly, putting story first. Not all films are made this way any more and will naturally appeal to an older audience, who appreciate substance over pace.I haven't read the book and I won't, I don't particularly care if it's miscast, essentially I take a film as it is whilst it's on my TV and whether I enjoy it, or not. The majority of viewers click the same way, too. In any case, I quite like the cast; good to see John Goodman again - I always enjoy the way he plays his parts without restriction or reference to his physical size.The story is a good one, not spell-blindingly brilliant but enough substance to keep one interested. For a modest film that doesn't try and raise its game beyond what it can deliver, it's a good movie of its kind.
tom_veatch
When I watched the movie, I didn't see real, believable people. I saw actors reading a script. The only thing good I can say is the wooden character portrayals may have been a little better than the atrocious writing. But not a lot.I guess there is one thing good I can say. I was born and raised close to that part of the country and felt at home with the scenery and cinematography, as well as the speech patterns of a few of the minor actors. But I'd expect the major characters, who are supposed to be native to the area would have assimilated a little of the flavor of South Louisiana. Nope. They might as well have been wandering around Chicago or Los Angeles for the past 40+ years instead of the swamps and bayous of South Louisiana.I've seen Tommy Lee Jones in much, much better material.
AD
