powmanx
this movie overall was a great movie,, but there is story line I feel like no one really caught but I could just be going crazy. spoilers start here. what I really believe the story actually is is that the wife faked the whole thing. I believe she drugged her husband, and put make up on to appear like she'd been beaten. she took his ring and put some on his hands. in the beginning, look how ready she was to come back home. her husband said he couldn't find his ring, and she had it the whole time. look how willing she was to let him come back for intensive chores like remodeling her house and landscaping the yard. she stated in the middle of the movie that he will just have to make it up to her every day for the rest of their lives. She wanted a relationship where she was pampered and treated like a queen. she wanted to go to a restaurant that all their friends went to so she could gain that much more power over the situation. it's ironic that the brother hired someone to kill his brother in law when it was his sisters faking. I thought it was very strange how willing, how passive the husband was. in the end when the husband was killed, it looked as if she was remorseful also because she finally had what she wanted from her marriage. this makes more sense to me than simply her husband actually beating her and the story going from there. does anyone else feel this way ?
mmcaravaggio
This movie is a superb combination of thriller and socially conscious film-making. I've never really seen a film that is as good. The acting is great all around. The characters are nuanced. The problem of domestic violence is subtly depicted. The courage of the filmmakers is obvious from the start. I highly recommend this film. My one reservation concerns the depiction of the killer as southern. But the portrayal of people wiling to forgive is truly amazing and impressive. So, I agree totally with this other review: I saw this movie at a screening in Boston MA sponsored by Emerson college. I was impressed with the content of the film and how Jack Bryan the writer/director incorporates his characters and intertwines their lives into the dark depths of alcoholism and domestic violence. His choice of cast members was right on and I particularly liked his portrayal of the killer played by Chris Mulkey. I was surprised by the ending but not disappointed. This is a must see movie. I hope to have the opportunity to experience more works from this group of talented writers, directors, and producers along with all members who made this film what it is.
Theo Robertson
A young husband Teddy beats up his wife Molly . Disgusted by this Molly's brother Gordon puts a plan of revenge in to action that leads to consequences !!!! SUGGESTIVE SPOILERS !!!! A independent film from writer /director Jack Bryan who might be worth keeping an eye on . Being an indie film it lacks big names , big budget and is a little slow but this is more than compensated by the performances and a subtext that an eye for an eye leads to universal blindness . When Gordon hires Howard the hit-man I did think we'd be seeing a plot turn where Teddy goes back to beating up Molly therefore any violence inflicted upon him is entirely justified . This predcibility doesn't happen however and is the better for it as Teddy pulls out all the stops to make things back up to Molly. . Most of the structure takes place via dual plotting where one half of the plot concentrates on Teddy and Molly's relationship woes and the other half on Gordon and Howard . There is a slight bugbear to some of this such as why would a hit-man allow a client to visit his home and you're aware this is simply to set up the ending . In other words it's a bit too mechanical to be overly successful but as a dramatic thriller it's not unimpressive
nrsmith85
I saw this film at the Tallgrass Film Festival, and it was excellent. Jack Bryan really knows how to write a compelling tale, and the film ends in a way that Hollywood could never deliver. There's a well-established sense of the world that the characters inhabit, and it never feels like a low-budget production. There are several long dialog takes that are thoroughly impressive performances. It's good to see Fran Kranz in a serious role, as he totally sells the character. Hopefully this acts as a showcase for more dramatic projects. I was unfamiliar with Jocelin Donahue, but will definitely keep an eye out for her in other films. Chris Mulkey is a beast, and absolutely kills it. The people involved in making this movie are clearly talented and passionate individuals, and I can't wait to see what they bring to the table next.
AD
