Stink Bomb: Martin, how could you?

Rating: Null/10 (22 January 2004)

Daniel Day Lewis gives a riveting, fascinating, over-the-top performance, one of his finest. Unfortunately it is in this stink bomb of a movie. Rarely have I waited and anticipated a film to this level and rarely have I been so wildly disappointed. Visually stunning the film is marred - and mired - by the protagonist of Leonardo di Caprio. I can see why directors want him, he is capable in the right role (difficult for me to say this). In the right role he's less than adequate (and do people really find him THAT good looking? That can't be the reason, can it?) Here, di Caprio is a somnambulist, barely going through the motions. I wanted to hold a mirror up to his mouth to see if he was really alive. The only acting job I can think of worse then this in a major director's big budget mess was Sophia Coppola's in God Father III. But she wasn't intended to carry the film as di Caprio is here.
Daniel Day Lewis deserved a better vehicle. Perhaps with today's technology his performance can be excised into something else?

Martin, how could you?