SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Like many others, I expected more from this movie considering the fabulous cast and the well-constructed trailer. This is one of those films that I truly wanted to LOVE.
I'll list my PROS & CONS, to include the positives and negatives that I may have overlooked in a more general review.
CONS:
Not very original storyline, too much copied from David Fincher's "Sev7en", or Denzel's "Training Day" (both of which included the "retiring-cop-teaching-new-rookie-the-ropes" theme). It was a challenge to convert my mindset to the PRE-smart phone technology of the early '90's, which made the instant communication factor non-existent. Of course that is no one's fault, just frustrating, lol. I guess if the story took place currently, it would have been a completely different plot.
Too much jumpy editing from scene to scene.
Too much focus on Sparma being the sole killer, not including any other tentative perps.
Flashback overkill to inform the viewer how deeply Denzel's unsolved murders were haunting him. It seems they disrupted most scenes where he was alone. We get it, we get it, he's traumatized by his past of unsolved murders and his accidental killing of the female victim.
Big plot hole with Jimmy trusting Sparma by turning his back on him while digging the holes. Actually, trusting Sparma enough to get into his car in the first place is not believable, especially with Jimmy believing Sparma was the killer. It was out of his character to make himself that vulnerable.
On a technical note, I could not hear some of the dialogue no matter how high I added volume...like the characters were mumbling or speaking too fast. It must be a technical issue that was not intentional.
Could have been 30 mins. shorter to tell the exact same story.
PROS
Story was interesting enough to keep me guessing about Sparma's involvement in the murders.
Denzel buying the red barrette for Jimmy (sneakily) to help him with closure and maybe lessen Jimmy's guilt. That was a clever and unique plot device, imho.
Unlike other viewers, I don't feel that Jared Leto was overacting. His creepy character was convincing to me.
I'll add more points to my review later if I think of any.
Like many others, I expected more from this movie considering the fabulous cast and the well-constructed trailer. This is one of those films that I truly wanted to LOVE.
I'll list my PROS & CONS, to include the positives and negatives that I may have overlooked in a more general review.
CONS:
Not very original storyline, too much copied from David Fincher's "Sev7en", or Denzel's "Training Day" (both of which included the "retiring-cop-teaching-new-rookie-the-ropes" theme). It was a challenge to convert my mindset to the PRE-smart phone technology of the early '90's, which made the instant communication factor non-existent. Of course that is no one's fault, just frustrating, lol. I guess if the story took place currently, it would have been a completely different plot.
Too much jumpy editing from scene to scene.
Too much focus on Sparma being the sole killer, not including any other tentative perps.
Flashback overkill to inform the viewer how deeply Denzel's unsolved murders were haunting him. It seems they disrupted most scenes where he was alone. We get it, we get it, he's traumatized by his past of unsolved murders and his accidental killing of the female victim.
Big plot hole with Jimmy trusting Sparma by turning his back on him while digging the holes. Actually, trusting Sparma enough to get into his car in the first place is not believable, especially with Jimmy believing Sparma was the killer. It was out of his character to make himself that vulnerable.
On a technical note, I could not hear some of the dialogue no matter how high I added volume...like the characters were mumbling or speaking too fast. It must be a technical issue that was not intentional.
Could have been 30 mins. shorter to tell the exact same story.
PROS
Story was interesting enough to keep me guessing about Sparma's involvement in the murders.
Denzel buying the red barrette for Jimmy (sneakily) to help him with closure and maybe lessen Jimmy's guilt. That was a clever and unique plot device, imho.
Unlike other viewers, I don't feel that Jared Leto was overacting. His creepy character was convincing to me.
I'll add more points to my review later if I think of any.