What I didn't like about the movie.

Hi Timescrew, John Brennan killed the owner of the meth lab in self defense, because that guy was shooting at him first and his bullet injured John's upper arm (without being stuck in his arm). So he is no killer.

"The man just popped a meth producer, dumped a dead meth dealer, robbed a meth lab, doctored records, B&E, struck in officer, BROKE YOU OUT OF CUSTODY, and then dragged your whiny useless ass through the streets to save you and your family and you want to inquire about a supposed relationship with a woman you don't know."

Yes, he accomplished a lot, BUT his wife did not know about all that was going on before he freed her. That's why she was jealous.

'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings.

Interesting post. I disagree with most of it, but others have argued those points pretty well already. The one I really want to argue is your point #5, that it's "terrible writing" that Lara attempts to throw herself out of the car.

First off, a character choice that's consistent within the past actions of the character hardly seems to me to be poor writing. We've already seen that Lara is willing to kill herself and she seriously attempts it earlier in the film.

So for me, the later moment when she nearly succeeds in falling out of the car is shocking, but it's also necessary to the climax of the story. The moment is not only good writing, it's a horribly beautiful scene cinematically, and one that ties directly to the heart of the story.

The movie is about love and extremes -- what Brennan will do, how far he will go, for someone he loves. He cannot live without Lara (and interestingly when push comes to shove, he shows that he is willing to live without his son).

Lara however can live without Brennan, although she loves him. But she can't survive the prospect of never seeing her son again, and I bought that and found it interesting and moving. When looked at from Lara's perspective, the moment makes a certain kind of skewed sense. She is an innocent and wrongly imprisoned woman watching her husband ruin and risk everything in his own life to save her and is visibly horrified (and in fact pretty tellingly refuses to be rescued until he forces her to either move or damn them both). She is terrified, exhausted, barely functioning, then he hits her with the news that they are leaving her child behind, and that's it -- she loses it for a moment.

So I understand her decision in the car and believe it, and I also found it kind of terribly beautiful in the film -- Elizabeth Banks is so good here (I found her really revelatory in the role), and there's a surreal balletic quality to her fall and to the spinning car. I thought it was a thrilling sequence and was glad Brennan saved her. I also love that they both take a breath afterwards and just sit, and you can see her kind of come back to life when she takes his hand.

And again -- the whole sequence plays into what lengths people will go to for specific other people. Brennan can't live without Lara. But Lara can't live without her son.

As to your other notes, I will just generally respond that I think the movie is actually tightly written, beautifully cast, well-acted (okay, with the exception of the awful kid actor playing their son), and capably directed. For me this movie's a little gem, a sleeper that I recommend people seeking a good thriller they may have missed.

Cheers, hope this helps to provide an alternate perspective.



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I keep thinking I'm a grownup, but I'm not.

How hard could it be to be smarter than a cop? Those guys aren't really known for being rocket surgeons...

I disagree with you.

The movie was great, casting was good and acting was great. What do you guys would like these days? I often read how good movies are actually 'craps', really?

[deleted]

Lead cop was a lousy actor and a bottom feeder pal.