The show centers around two roomates, hopeless scientist geeks Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) whose routines of Halo nights, playing World of Warcraft, and discussing super-heroes and scientific principles with their friends Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) are changed by the arrival of a cute midwestern gal named Penny (Kaley Cuoco) who moves into the apartment across the hall.
The Lerner family stop at a gas station late one night. At the same time Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) is driving his son home from a Red Sox game. Distracted and trying to get his son back before his ex-wife (Mira Sorvino) goes ballistic, Mark makes a sharp turn and accidentally hits young Josh Learner (Sean Curley) who was releasing fireflies at the side of the road. Knowing his involvement will lose him all rights to see his son Arno drives off without stopping leaving Ethan (Joaquin Phoenix) and Grace (Jennifer Connelly) to mourn the death of their son and begin a search for the man responsible.
The film does a pretty good job in casting Ruffalo as the man responsible for the crime without making him seem evil. Is he a coward? Yes. Is he responsible for the death of a young boy? Yes. Most of his scenes throughout the rest of the film showcase him dealing with his guilt and trying to find the courage to come clean. The screenplay does a good job getting inside Arno’s head as he comes up with rationalizations and excuses for his actions.
On the other side of the film you have Phoenix and Connelly mourning the loss of Josh. The film successfully allows each character to grieve in their own way, although Ethan’s obsession does come off a little over-the-top at times.
Based on the real life kidnapping of Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl the film tells the story of Mariane Pearl (Angelina Jolie) and the search for her missing husband (Dan Futterman) in Pakistan. For more on the plot of the film read Ian’s original review.
I had a mixed reaction to the film in the theater. It’s edited oddly in an almost George Lucas quick-cut pace. Often scenes are left abruptly as time jumps forward minutes, hours, or days without explanation or warning. This mirrors the disconnect Mariane and her friends have to the situation but it also keeps you disconnected from the story on a basic emotional level through most of the film. If the film had been shot from Mariane’s point of view this method might have worked better, but that’s not the case.
Although the film is certainly well acted and shot it never comes together in quite the way it should. Whether its the odd editing or the absence of scenes involving Daniel and the tension of what he is going through, it never quite connects with the audience. Although the film is worth seeing I would suggest renting rather than buying would be the way to go. There’s much to enjoy here, including a good message, and just as much to puzzle over; whether you enjoy the film or not you can still appreciate the emotion and effort that went into it to tell this tale.
“If we don’t catch the abductor by day one only about 10% are ever solved. This is day three.”
Tough choices and consequencesThe story begins with the disappearance of a young girl (Madeline O’Brien) from her home. Two private investigators, Patrick Kezie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan), are hired by the girl’s aunt (Amy Madigan) and her husband (Titus Welliver) to find her.
Ben Affleck, who does double duty here by co-writing the film, his first since Good Will Hunting (he adapted the tale from Dennis Lehane‘s novel), and directing his first feature, produces a pretty good flick. Centered around the poorer section of Boston each character feels real. It may not be a pretty view of America, but, sadly, it’s a far more realistic one than most of us are willing to admit.
For the first hour the film slowly unfolds as the investigation by John Ashton (Sgt. Taggart!!) and Ed Harris and led by Morgan Freeman uncovers only dead ends and false leads. The case is complicated by the mother’s (Amy Ryan) drug addiction, her recent decisions, and the people surrounding her that may have a reason to hurt her, or possibly her child.
Director Shekhar Kapur‘s follow-up to 1998’s Elizabeth is something of a train wreck, a lush and well acted train wreck to be sure, but a train wreck none the less.
Where the first movie chronicled Elizabeth’s (Cate Blanchett) rise to the throne this film splits in focus in many directions including the Queen’s fascination and friendship with the explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), court intrigue and her relationship with one of her ladies in waiting, the “other” Elizabeth (Abbie Cornish), Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush) investigating and torturing traitors, the plot to assassinate the Queen and to put Mary Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) on the throne, the machinations of King Phillip II of Spain (Jordi Molla), and the war between England and Spain. If that’s not enough we also get subplots including Elizabeth’s (Cornish) brother (Steven Robertson), Walsingham’s son (Adam Godley), a burgeoning relationship between Elizabeth (Cornish) and Raleigh.
