Possible spoilers. The main reason to watch this film is, without a doubt, watching the recently deceased master cinematographer Conrad Hall at work. Every shot is pure stark black and white beauty; shadows dance on faces and walls, vertical bars entrap the characters, and, in one of the greatest shots ever put on film, Robert Blake appears to be crying through a careful trick of reflection of raindrops falling down a windowsill. The performances are all on target as is the direction and Quincy Jones' jazz-erific score, but the script suffers from some serious pacing issues. The last twenty minutes or so of the film drag at an excruciatingly slow pace and the random addition of a preachy, heavy-handed narrator almost kills the power of the incredible last shot. However, if you can make it through the film's obvious flaws, then this haunting film is definitely worth seeing. (7/10)
Review of In Cold Blood
