A Solid Classic Film
Added 6/16/2008
I just caught this on television and wanted to recommend it as well.
This is one of those movies that once I started it, I was so challenged and captivated by it I couldn't "put it down". What's great about this film is that it puts you in the position of the main character, who is caught in a web he can't quite understand and you have to figure it out along with him. All the pieces fell into place for me at exactly the right time so it was a total winner.
If you're looking for brainless entertainment where everything is explained Dick-and-Jane style as you go along, there are thousands of other films out there you'll like better. I found this gripping and rewarding.
Also good words for the performers in this film -this is a movie that depends on real acting -not on CGI, exploding cars, or impossible acrobatics. Matt Davis pulls off a really difficult role -the entire film hangs on the expressions on this guys face, and on the other main characters as well They're all worth watching.
A top notch drama/myster/thriller if that's what you're looking for.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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This is one of those twisted movies that you have to watch more than once to see things you didn't see the first time. I truly liked this movie.
3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Almost too complicated, but worth it
Added 1/15/2006
A couple other reviewers infinitely smarter than me attempted to concisely capture this movie's plot. Unsuccessfully though, as there were richer layers upon layers in the movie that made you think. The "fixer" and real main/central character William Ashbury (James Spader) was quite interesting throwing out red herrings, twists and turns along the way.
I found two women in the movie, the main character Harrison French's wife Wynn (Robin Tunney) as well as Wynn's sister Allison (Lacey Chabert) quite cute to look at.
One red herring thrown out was at one point, I almost thought that not only did Harrison kill his brother-in-law Chris (unknown Andrew Harris) but that Harrison was Chris' partner in the bank robbery. Am I alone there in thinking that? That was one of the many red herrings for herring lovers that this movie spewed at you in rapid-fire sequence.
I found turning the tables on good bad guy William Ashbury WAS quite rewarding and a good finish, and enjoyed the Spokane, Washington locale of the movie (although it evidently rains too much there).
I played a guessing game as to where the movie was filmed as it had this American-movie-filmed-in-Canada feeling to it for most of the movie.
Not any kind of major theatrical release by anyone's standards, but worth it if you want to be challenged by a rich not-straight ahead plot.
1 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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You can watch this more than once.
Added 12/16/2005
Ok, James Spader has another role as a dirtbag - but let's be honest, he is good at being a dirtbag.
I liked the idea of "collecting" criminals and punishing them through each other - lots of interesting material in this movie for law and security professionals.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Very enjoyable
Added 8/1/2005
This was a very good film.
It's a case study in greed, guilt,
exploitation, redemption, and self-
preservation. Honestly, it took me
a while to fully catch on to
Mr. Ashbury's scheme because we get
a lot of insinuation, but not much
dialogue about what's going on. Finally,
in maybe the last ten minutes or so
of the film, everything is unleashed
at once and you're left to process all
the information that would have been
common knowledge in a real life situation.
The plot is mildy far fetched and once all the
dots were connected, I was still left thinking,
"Um, what the hell....?"
Anyway, I like and recommend the movie, mostly because of Mr.
Ashbury's smooth, cold demeanor. Did anyone
else think that Matt Davis came across as a
crybaby in this film?
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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