my thoughts on.... 'Prisoners'

It's rare that I get out to see a movie in the theaters anymore. The cost alone, is enough to turn off most viewers and it just seems to be getting worse. The other issue is, finding a movie that I actually want to see in the theaters! It has to be something I want to see with friends or one that my wife and I can both agree on. 'Prisoners' was one of those rare films. I'm not sure if it was the cast or the story line or the trailers. There was just something about it that spoke to each of us. (My wife also has a thing for Hugh Jackman, so that never hurts the chances of seeing him in a movie.)

The trailers gave you an overall feeling of what to expect from the film and a bit of what the story would entail. What ended up being the actual film, was two and a half hours on an emotional roller coaster in the dark. No matter how comfortable you got with what was going on, the minute you caught your breath.... it hit you in the stomach again. Granted, there was a lot about it that was predictable and cliched, but that really didn't matter to me. The ending also left a little bit to be desired. It was a tad unfinished, especially considering that you had already invested almost three hours. I think 5 more minutes of exposition wouldn't have hurt. The result of this lead one movie goer to remark, "That was stupid." as she left the theater. I think she was wrong about the ending and the overall film. But, I imagine that there will be a few other folks that might feel the same way too. Indie films use the vague ending quite a bit and it's something that we've all come to expect. Big budget thrillers, with an 'A' list cast and a lot of great press usually have a more "idiot proof" finale. Regardless of one viewers rush judgement, the critics are all disagreeing. Across the board, it's getting rave reviews. I haven't heard any thoughts from any one I know yet. I'd be curious what the average movie goer thinks, versus that of a major newspaper or movie review site. I'm a bit jaded and consider myself pretty well schooled on films. I went to school for it, have seen more than I can count and have incorporated it into my everyday life. I love movies in every form: good, bad or indifferent. I love to talk about them, write about them and over think them. It's a passionate hobby. With that being said, me enjoying it and not really seeing the outcome too early.... says something about 'Prisoners'. Too me, it is a mark of quality. To be able to take a person like me and engage them and keep their interest for an extended period of time, is a feat all by itself! Granted, my wife caught on really early and made sure to tell me her theory. (Which was correct, by the way.) I preferred to just let it play out, without any preconceived notions. I like to be surprised every once and a while. Don't you?

I read somewhere that this film would make a good companion piece to David Fincher's 'Se7en'. They aren't really the same animal, but they do kind of have a similar feel. They both play out almost entirely in the rain/snow. There is very little sun in either film. They both deal with a cat and mouse type scenario. Good guys vs. bad guys, but neither is clearly bad or good. It's dark and doesn't have much light to lessen the weight of the drama. There's really no humor or action. It's really a story about choices. How far would you go to save someone you loved? And I honestly think that they did it with tact and some reality. There's moments of things being a bit over the top, but never so much as to lose the viewer. The violence is also understated and more implied than shown. It's quite effect and affecting.

In case you've missed the previews, the story goes like this: (taken from IMDB.com) "Keller Dover is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki arrests its driver, Alex Jones, but a lack of evidence forces his release. As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child's life is at stake the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?" This is the basic outline for the first half of the film. There's so much more going on than this. The story gets deeper, more complex and pretty damn dark. This element may turn off a few viewers, but it 'Se7en' is your kind of thing.... this will be a cake walk. Hugh Jackman is listed as the lead in this film, but Jake Gyllenhaal really is the main character in the story. Terrance Howard, Maria Bello and Paul Dano also star. Everyone in this film turns in a high caliber performance. I don't know that I'm seeing an Oscar nods here, but it's still early and there's a lot more films to come out this year. All the characters are fairly complex and engaging. No one is really one dimensional, however, Melissa Leo's turn as 'Holly', is a bit stiff. She's not got a lot of screen time, but she's a name actress with some critical acclaim. Because of that, I suppose I expected a bit more. Jake really was the surprise stand out. He doesn't fall into all of the trappings of the slightly burned out detective. He doesn't smoke or drink. He doesn't have an ex-wife and kids that he never sees. He's even offered a drink, at one of his lowest points, and denies it. I respect the decisions of the writer to not give us that stereo typed detective. It was refreshing. I actually wanted more back story on him than we were treated to. He is a fully 3-dimensional character and we end up knowing so little about him. I'm kind of hoping they make another film with him as the lead character. I should also mention Paul Dano's portrayal of Alex Jones. I expected him to run away with this film. He was pretty amazing, but he was so subtle that he kind of got overshadowed by the other characters. The funny thing is, that's what would've happened to his character in real life. That being said, he was pretty perfect in that role. Suitably creepy. Anyway.... that's my two cents.

All in all, this is a very satisfying piece of modern cinematic drama. I found myself fully invested into the story, within the first three minutes of the film. I watched every little action and re-action of each character, trying to find out all of the little hidden details. When the third act finally began, I was so ready for a payoff and I got what I wanted and then some. It bordered on being a bit too much. As every time you thought things were ending, it kept going. I think that's part of reason why the very last scene in the film seemed a bit abrupt. It was due to the audience expecting the film to keep going at parts where it felt like the ending, that when it was finally the end.... it felt like I should've kept going. Does that make sense?

My final thoughts are that this was a great film and one that deserves to be seen. In the theater or at home, I think it will still pack a punch. It's a kidnapping film that doesn't re-hash every other kidnapping film ever made. It doesn't rely on all of the cliched characters and their cliched actions and the stuff that you see in every single cop show ever made. 'Prisoners' instead relies on giving you a chance to do see something at a slightly different angle. It may be a bit over the top in the end. The story might just go a hair beyond the realms of belief, but I really didn't mind. I cared so much about the characters and the outcome, that I bought it all.... hook, line and sinker. I'm also not someone who left the theater feeling unsatisfied. I've seen vague endings before and ones that end so abruptly that you have no idea if the film is even over. This one gave you an ending that stops short, but isn't unfinished. There is closure. I give 'Prisoners' 4 out of 5 stars and I think my wife feels the same way too. Sadly, the lady who left before me, didn't agree. Her loss. This is one that will continue to bring in an audience, as long as the critics keep loving it. This film has also created an interest in the other works of it's director: Denis Villeneuve. I'd never heard of him prior to this, but I've got his other films queued up and ready to go at any time. The man knows drama. Highly recommended.

If you like this, check out: 'Se7en', 'Nightwatch' (1997) and any of the Hannibal Lecter films. (Although, those are all serial killers and not kidnapping films. They just feel similar.)

By the way, I hate the poster. Nuff' said.

my thoughts on.... 'Quarantine 2: Terminal'

Remakes are something that create a lot of arguements on the pro and con side as to whether or not they're a good thing. Sequels to remakes of original films that don't follow the original sequels storyline are an entirely different animal. Have I lost you yet? Basically, the original Spanish film '[REC]', was remade in the United States as 'Quarantine'. It was fairly true to the original source material, however, they decided to make a sequel. Now, there was already a sequel to '[REC]', called '[REC]2'. (original title, right?) The sequel to the original sequel does not follow the same storyline. It carries on from 'Quarantine', but it goes in an entirely different direction. Basically, we have the 'virus' breaking out in an airplane that then gets quarantined in an airplane hanger. Despite the difference in storylines from the original, I still really enjoyed this film. Another strike against 'Quarantine 2: Terminal', is that it was a direct to DVD release. That is most certainly the kiss of death for most films and even more so for a lot of franchises. That doesn't mean that the franchises stop, but they are effectively dead from that point forward. I don't know how this film beat the odds, but I feel that it did it and did it well.

Here is the plot from IMDB.com: "A plane is taken over by a mysterious virus. When the plane lands it is placed under quarantine. Now a group of survivors must band together to survive the quarantine." It doesn't get any simpler than that. The beauty of the plot is that it's so simple it's almost impossible to screw it up. You know the basics of the story from the original film and this just hits the ground running, only in another place with different faces. It's like 'Die Hard' and 'Die Hard 2: Die Harder'.... only with plague/virus victims.I am kind of thinking that my opinion about this film might be the unpopular one. I mean, people were already up in arms with someone remaking '[REC]', so I kind of assume this pissed em' off even more. I don't mean to piss on the originals. I think both '[REC]' films are amazing films of the virus/plague subgenre of horror and zombies. But I also think that the 'Quarantine' films have done them justice. Sue me. This film knows its limitations and plays to them. It doesn't try to be more than it is and keeps it simple and to a formula. I mean, if it ain't broke.... don't fix it? Right? Thank god for that.

I cannot see this getting any less than 4 out of 5 stars. It is almost the perfect film in the way that it takes an already established storyline and just runs with it. As a matter of fact, the more I think about my earlier 'Die Hard' reference, the more I think it is the perfect example here. 'Die Hard' was based on a 1979 novel by Roderick Thorp titled 'Nothing Lasts Forever'. I'm sure when the fans of the novel heard that there was going to be a film made starring Bruce Willis, they were in an uproar. The film has gone on to be considered a classic and the ultimate guy film. It beat the odds. When they went forward with a sequel, I'm guessing that didn't go over all that well either. But I think that the 'Die Hard' sequel along with the sequel to 'Quarantine', both prove that sometimes you just have to check your expectations at the door and be willing to just let go and enjoy what you're seeing. With all that being said, go ahead and prove me wrong. I dare you.

Movies similar to this: 'Quarantine', '[REC]' and '[REC]2'

my thoughts on.... 'I Spit On Your Grave' (2010)

A while back, I wrote a fairly extensive review (by my standards) on the 1978 film 'I Spit On Your Grave' aka 'Day Of The Woman'. http://amomentarylapsewithjoel.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-thoughts-on-i-spit-on-your-grave-aka.html Meir Zarchi's exploitation epic is nortorious for many reasons and virtually wrecked the career's of a lot of the people involved. Well, somebody thought it would be a good idea to remake it and play with fire. I suppose with the release of the remake of Wes Craven's 'Last House On The Left', that it just seemed like the right time. Both are similar in tone, topic and end results. I've never really been a fan of films involving rape. I respected what the original was trying to do, but I can't say that I enjoyed it. Because of my experience with it, I was very slow to watching the remake. I'm kind of glad I didn't rush into it. After finally seeing it last night, I realized that I really needed to be in the right mind set to experience it. It is hard to watch and extremely graphic. Steven R. Monroe not only set out to remake the original, but to up the ante as well. I think that he also did something the original didn't do.... made it feel less like and exploitation piece and more like a revenge/empowerment piece. This version would have been more aptly subtitled, 'Day Of The Woman'.

The plot follows the original almost to the letter. There are a couple of subtle changes, but I imagine they were approved by Meir Zarchi as he was a producer on this film. The changes don't affect the overall story a lot, but if you've seen the original, it might throw you off a bit. The plot, according to IMDB.com: "Writer Jennifer Hills takes a retreat from the city to a charming cabin in the woods to start on her next book. But Jennifer's presence in the small town attracts the attention of a few morally depraved locals who set out one night to teach this city girl a lesson. They break into her cabin to scare her. However, what starts out as terrifying acts of humiliation and intimidation, quickly and uncontrollably escalates into a night of physical abuse and torturous assault. But before they can kill her, Jennifer sacrifices her broken and beaten body to a raging river that washes her away. As time passes, the men slowly stop searching for her body and try to go back to life as usual. But that isn't about to happen. Against all odds, Jennifer Hills survived her ordeal. Now, with hell bent vengeance, Jennifer's sole purpose is to turn the tables on these animals and to inflict upon them every horrifying and torturous moment they carried out on her." I think that sums it up completely.This film is a revenge story 100%. This is classified as a horror film, but the horror is all too real. There may not be a masked killer or a terrifying ghost, this film boasts monsters that exist and could possibly be people you've already met. One of the things the Mr. Monroe does differently than the original is to add a 5th party to the rape and attempted murder of our lead. I won't tell you who it is, but let's just say that he adds another level to the whole ordeal. It also adds another level of horror to the flim, as this person is possibly the last person you'd expect. It's a nice addition and what that I honestly didn't see coming. Another thing that's different (obviously), but I think better.... is the new leading lady. Camielle Keaton was great in the original, but Sarah Butler takes this character and brings it to a whole different level. She radiates off the screen and exudes so much emotion and eventual strengh. She automatically became a new favorite actress for me. Granted, she's not done much to speak of, that doesn't matter.... she has a bright future ahead of her and if I was making a film, I would hire her in a heartbeat. The setting, the cabin and the bad guys are all very similar to the original. It even feels the same when you watch it. This is a more modern take on the 1978 version, we have cell phones and computers.... but when it comes down to the final revenge, it's all old school. Yet another positive for this film.

The killings that our 'hero' Jennifer Hills carries out in the end are brutal and well deserved by the bad guys. What they did to her and the amount of time they terrorized her, earned them a lengthy stay in hell and she drags them down into that pit very slowly. The original boasted a lengthy rape scene, nearly 45 mins. The remake isn't quite as long, but still extremely graphic and hard to watch. What both films suffered from was bad poster design. Why do we need the rear end of a woman, half naked holding a knife? It just glorifies the wrong aspects of the film. Other than that, I felt this was a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I don't know if it has repeated watching written all over it, however I think it just might. I would never recommend this to a general audience. This film is for hardcore viewers only. This is a film that will stick with you and make you rethink staying alone in a cabin, especially if you're a beautiful woman. Just check your brain at the door during the scene with the crows.... they look a little too fake to me.

After thought: In the 78' version, Jennifer uses her sexuality to lure the rapists into situations of trust. Once they're in her realm, she dispatches her own brand of justice on each one of them. They never tried to kill her in the original version, they just let her go, expecting her too be to ashamed to say anything. Therefore, it makes it easier for her to convice them that she wants to be with them after the fact. In the 10' version, they attempt to murder her, but she escapes. She hides out plotting her revenge for 1 month before returning. She doesn't come to them trying to convince them of anything.... she hunts them down one by one and kills them slowly and painfully. They have no idea that she's even still alive. It seems much more believable to me and a lot less like they were trying to exploit Jennifer in the modern version. It's just a thought I had and something that I felt needed to be pointed out.

If you feel this is a good film, please watch: 'I Spit On Your Grave' (1978), 'The Brave One' and 'Extremeties'

my thoughts on.... 'Black Swan' (2010)

As soon as I posted on Facebook that I'd finished watching this film, I was already being asked what I thought. I am sorry that it's taken me this long to get my thoughts out. I think I just needed to formulate them a bit more as after I first finished watching 'Black Swan' I was a bit perplexed as to what I really felt about it. I don't know what I was expecting and I had been anxiously awaiting watching it, but had to put it off for almost a month due to my 'Top 50' countdown. (I didn't want to watch a bunch of new movies and then not be able to review them right away.) I am a fan of Darren Aronofsky and have enjoyed all of his films but the AWFUL 'The Fountain'. He's a talented director and is able to create some extremely disturbing scenes like David Lynch, but can also make a touching film about wrestling.... that's a pretty broad range of talent. I also am a long term fan of Vincent Cassel and Natalie Portman. I've said since I saw her in 'The Professional' that she would win an Oscar some day and this film was my final vindication. I don't know much about ballet and that was one of the things that kept me from seeing this film sooner and the fact that I'm not a big Mila Kunis fan. After seeing this, I can say that I can appreciate both things much more now. This film is unique in a lot of ways. It's nice and refreshing to have a film like this that can tell an original story with fresh faces and make it interesting. I think the fact that this film was so well received is due largely in the fact that it's an original film and not a re-hash of something else.

The film tells the story of a dancer who has worked a long time to get ahead in her ballet company. When the director announces that his next production will be 'Swan Lake', she takes this as her chance to step up and take the lead. In the meantime, the previous star of the ballet tries to kill herself, but ends up only severely injuring herself and securing the fact that she may never dance again. As the competition heats up for the lead, our heroine begins to lose her grip on reality. It's a slow decline, but it's there. She wins the role, but it doesn't bring her happiness. After a lot of time and trouble, she is ready for opening night. By this point, she has all but lost all sense of reality and is spiraling out of control. In full make-up and ready to perform, the curtain rises and the end begins.

So, at this point you may still be wondering if I enjoyed this or not? The answer is, I am still not 100% sure. It didn't reach out and grab me like 'The Wrestler' did. It didn't freak me out like 'Requiem For A Dream' did. It didn't fascinate me like 'Pi' did. It is a bit of a confusion. I want to like it and there is a lot about it that I do like.... maybe even love. Everything about this film is so well put together and everyone does so well in this film, it's hard to not say that it was amazing. There is just something off about it. I think Winona Ryder threw me off a bit. She just seemed out of place in the storyline and kind of forced. Some of the hallucinations are a bit 'off' and not done as well as they could have been. Despite all of that, it's still a film that I will want to add to my collection, as I can already say that I want to see it again. This is something that I believe upon further review, will grow on me more and more.

I think that this is something I would recommend to people to watch. Just be prepared to kind of suspend your disbelief. Not that amazing things happen, but that it's so kind of mind-bending that you have to take a step back from reality to enjoy it fully. A great film that I think will grow on me over time. Something that I can't seem to get out of my head, but I did my best to get some of my thoughts down for you. I hope this satisfies what you were looking for. 4 out of 5 stars and 1 creepy moving picture on the wall.

my brief thoughts on.... 'Observe and Report'

i have a feeling that there are a lot of people out there that really dislike this movie.... and those who really love it.... i just don't think it's a middle of the road movie.... it even shocked me a bit.... but in the end, i really enjoyed this and i ended up buying it for my DVD library.... i've since watched it several times and it's just bizarre enough and mean spirited enough that it's what i would call a guilty pleasure.... now if you like your comedy clear cut and ha ha funny, this may not be for you.... it's more of a dark comedy with not many redeeming qualities.... the characters tend to be unlikeable, but in an anti-hero kind of way.... you find yourself rooting for the lesser of all evil's.... it reminded me of a 'Death to Smoochy' kind of movie.... (which i also own and love....)....

Seth Rogan shines as the lead in the movie.... he plays Ronnie Barnhardt the head of mall security at a large mall.... he has bigger asperations to be a police officer, but has several issues and can't pass the tests.... he's in love with the girl at the makeup counter and tries to woo her at any chance he can get.... meanwhile, there's a flasher on the loose and someone who's robbed the mall.... Ronnie tries to solve the case before the police do and goofy stuff happens.... Ray Liotta plays the cop who's working to solve the case and he plays off Seth Rogan beautifully....
there are a lot of funny moments in this movie, along with male full frontal nudity.... Anna Feris plays a great bitch and her drunk scene is disturbing but pretty damn funny in a twisted kind of way.... there's just so many things wrong with this movie, but in turn that's what makes it work.... you find yourself in so many uncomfortable situations that when the punchline hits you're so relieved that you're out of that situation that you can't help but laugh.... or rewind the movie to make sure you saw or heard what you thought you did.... i found this to be a 4 out of 5 star comedy.... i look forward to hear someone else's opinion on this movie.... as i don't know that i know anyone who's seen it.... it's not going to change the face of comedy, however it made me appreciate Seth Rogan a bit more.... and the fact that certain people should not be nude.

if you like this, watch: 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno', 'Step Brothers', and 'Death to Smoochy'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Antichrist'

Lars Von Trier is the master of creating beautifully tragic scenes and moving visual pieces of art.... only to be matched by David Lynch.... granted, his films are not for everyone.... this one especially.... this one has pushed his boundries to a near breaking point.... but he still walks a fine line.... this is classified as a horror film, but it's more than that.... it has elements of a supernatural horror film.... a stalker/slasher film.... but in a lot of ways, it's just the study of a couple dealing with the tragic loss of a child.... it's just an extreme example of how someone might deal with it.... very extreme.... i don't know that i can put into words what this movie is.... or was.... or even what i saw.... i can't sum it up into a simple string of sentences.... it's like when i saw 'Dancer in the Dark'.... it moved me so deeply.... and it was beyond description.... or 'Dogville'.... such a unique movie with a unique vision that needs to be seen to be understood.... but i digress....

this movie starts with one of the most amazing opening scenes ever filmed.... where the couple is wrapped up in their own lovemaking that they don't notice that the window of their apartment has blown open.... they live about 6 stories up or more and their son is not asleep.... he soon gets out of his crib.... past the baby gate and up on the desk in front of the window.... where he proceeds to slip and fall to his death... unable to deal with her grief, the wife breaksdown.... her husband, a therapist, begins treating her.... which is against everyones better judgement.... soon they decide to face her fears and head to a cabin in the woods where the movie just plummets off the deep end into insanity....it's strange, but in this movie.... there really isn't anyone but the couple and their son.... i can't think of one other person you see throughout the film.... it's really a meditation on their lives.... it's graphic, it's brutal, it's extremely sexual.... it's unlike any movie i've seen in a while.... i still can't say that i've made my mind up about it.... as i only gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... mostly due to the ending being a little vague.... but maybe that was the point....? i really think it deserves far more stars for it's shear creativity and boldness in filmaking.... it's unlike anything you'll see this year.... give it a shot.... but you have been warned, it's not for the weak and it's not for a large segment of the population.... this is a study in film appreciation.

some other Lars Von Trier movies i recommend: 'Dancer in the Dark', 'Dogville' and 'Manderlay'

my thoughts on.... 'The Collector'

what do you get when you have the writers of the last few 'Saw' movies write and direct their own movie....? you get 'The Collector'.... a dark and moody horror movie all about killer who likes to torment his victims, but he always keeps one in the end.... thus making him The Collector.... visually this movie has a lot going for it.... soundtrack wise, the same thing.... the characters are interesting and the plot is fairly original.... the killer is creepy as heck.... there's plenty of blood and gooey stuff for those who like that kind of stuff.... all in all a very nice first outing.... and considering the pedigree of the director, it makes sense.... i came into this with little to no expectations and was pleasently suprised by how enjoyable it was.... in the moviegoing sense.... it kept my interest and i cared about the people involved.....

basically, you quickly learn that our killer likes to leave a little trap for his victims to get their attention.... from there he sets traps all over the entire house so that his vicitms can't escape and so he can also see them suffer while trying to avoid the traps.... granted, it sounds a bit like the 'Saw' movies, but it's not.... the traps are much more simple and more realistic.... the movie starts with our hero working on a house with a whole lot of other people for a family who's just moved in.... our hero has decided that he is going to rob the home, like he's done in the past for a partner he has that moves the product for him.... once the family has supposedly gone out of town, he shows up at the house and breaks in.... soon he realizes that he's not alone.... our killer is also in the house and has taken the family hostage.... and he must decide whether to help them out or make his getaway, if he can....
my biggest drawback to this movie is the fact that the traps would just take way too long to set to be practical.... unless this guy plans on being there for hours on end.... not too mention, once he's caught the husband and wife, they only have the two children that are left to catch.... so the traps remain kind of pointless, unless a third party breaks in and messes things up.... but perhaps that's his game.... in case the cops show up, they'll be disabled....? who knows.... but it makes for an interesting story.... and makes it much more difficult for our hero to do what he has to do.... it's obvious the 'Saw' influence is here, but not overwhelming.... this guy is a bad guy and has no method to his madness.... he just likes to kill....

i gave it 3 out of 5 stars for style and substance.... but it has some pretty big flaws.... i'll be curious where our director goes next.... he has a lot of talent.... and if it's a sequel that's next on his plate, so be it.... but i'd love to see him branch out and show of what he's really capable of.... the movie itself seperated from the storyline and characters is very well done.... all in all a solid effort and worthwhile to watch.... i would recommend it as a diversion or a late night time waster.... check it out....

if you like this see: 'Saw', 'High Tension' and 'P2'

my thoughts on.... 'Surveillance'

anyone who knows me and my love of film knows that i love the work of David Lynch.... he's one of my all time favorite directors.... he's one of the most creative people in the Hollywood system in more ways than one.... now David has a daughter named Jennifer and the movie 'Surveillance' is her directorial debut.... so it was a no brainer that i'd want to see this film.... and last night, OnDemand, i had the pleasure of viewing it.... it's almost exactly what i expected it to be.... perhaps a little more mainstream then the typical David Lynch movie, but you can't expect father and daughter to be the same style of director and it proved to be a good thing for this movie....

there are a series of horrific murders in a small town and after a police officer is killed along with a man and woman, the FBI is finally called in.... the two agents, played by Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond, show up at the small town police station to interview three witnesses.... a little girl, the partner of the police officer who was killed and a drugged out woman.... we don't initially find out the conection between all of them.... but throughout the questions asked, the picture becomes clearer and clearer....
both Bill and Julia are at the peak of their game thanks to the direction of Jennifer Chambers Lynch.... she brings out the best in everyone in the film.... and creates a fascinating story that's hard to take your eyes off of.... i was literally glued to the TV for the length of the entire movie.... now i refuse to even hint at the ending.... but it is something that just has to be seen.... it wasn't 100% expected, however in hindsight i could kind of see it coming.... but don't that sway you from seeing the film.... it's well worth a watch.... and if it's any indication of what's to come from Jennifer Lynch then i can't wait to see what the future holds....

4 out of 5 stars hands down.... it's a no brainer on that one.... i really enjoyed this film and wouldn't mind seeing it again.... it's got a strong and unusual cast that all work well together to move along the unique storyline.... as to whether this will be a part of the DVD collection remains to be seen.... thank you David Lynch for your contribution to the film world on your own and through your offspring....