Worthy of an Oscar

Rating: 8/10 (17 August 2005)

From Paul Haggis' writing comes a stylish, witty, and charming level of dialogue that has something that many other films lack - sincerity. Having recently read an interview with the director I was acutely aware of the subject matter prior to watching, and once you are engaged in the film it is easy to understand how this could have all gone wrong. The key seems to be that this multi character driven narrative (like magnolia) contains characters of real empathy who do not tend towards extremes of reaction as a substitute for action. The style of the piece is also awash with natural lighting and documentary-like filming, which adds to the engagement of the viewer - it comes across like little snippets of reality. It is most definitely a humanistic film, as each stage passes and a little more character is revealed our perceptions of those people change, which in turns questions our own alliances with character in film. The cinematography was satisfactory although there are times that the screening quality is not the highest and in this digital age it may have benefited from being filmed in HD, but these scenes are few and far between and do not detract from the quality of the story. Therefore if you wish to see a film that eloquently weaves race, guns, and politics together with real heart then go see this, it will open your eyes (especially to the idea that Sandra Bullock can occasionally act).