The choice Nic made for his directorial debut made me admire him all the more as an artist and as a person. He highlighted a part of life that most people would prefer stayed swept under the carpet, so in that sense it was awareness raising and the emotional depictions were I felt very pure. The respect he shows for the storyline shines through, and I thought James Franco's performance was just amazing. I really do hope he and Nic work together again!
I'm with you Mara, I can't wait to see Nic's next directing project. He has such a level of experience and depth of talent as an actor,, I would be really excited to see how he empowers that in other actors and actresses. And I think that is the kind of director he might be, an empowering one...with the awareness, sensitivity and boldness to bring out the full potential in others...well that's how I like to imagine it.
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Holy plasma balls ~ Blake the Master Sorcerer ~ Magic in his hands
Woo Hoo! Excellent job on writing a review Mara! I can't wait for more! ;)
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If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~~~Stephen Levine~~~
Iīll open fire first, lol. I posted this review in Imdb in 2004. After re-reading it, I remembered something I had totally forgotten. In 2004 I was so curious about Nicīs directorial debut that I just couldnīt wait for the movie to open in Spanish cinemas (at that point it wasnīt a sure deal that it would come to Europe either). So I ordered it from Amazon (I own a Region 1 DVD). So... maybe I was the first Spanish to see it, lol. Anyway, there you go:
European audiences are used to slower pace and darker subject-matters, so this pic would undoubtedly be more appreciated in the Continent than it has been in the US...
I was fortunate enough to watch it on an import Region-1 DVD, and was struck by the non-judgmental approach and sensitivity of the director & cast dealing with such a rough story line.
This movie is great. The seedy settings feel real, and I for one dig the characterīs attitudes, even though Sonnyīs predicament is hard to take in at times. The acting is excellent overall -great supporting actors- and the four principals give remarkable, tuned in performances. Harry Dean Stanton stands out as a loveable, pathetic good-for-nothing, he manages to make you root for him in all his scenes. The depiction of the underworld is fascinating and makes a lasting impression. The director takes us places heīs not afraid to tread and we were curious to go but didnīt dare on our own. And the ending is a big pay-off, kudos to Mr. Cage for considering us smart enough to figure it out as we please.
All in all, a bold directorial debut, in line with the bold acting choices of the director. And look out for James Franco, heīs a star-to-be.
