I'm a Big Boy Now

Rating: 5/10 (26 February 2008)

A somewhat faithful adaptation of the novel with the same name, and a solid directing effort from Ben Affleck. His brother Casey is rightfully garnering more and more attention recently since stealing the The Assassination of Jesse James show, but I was already following his career after a wonderful turn as a wanderer in Van Sant's Gerry. Here he delivers a fine performance, but one which is marred only by some poor directing. I simply did not buy the 'bad ass' modes he transitions into from time to time, and would have preferred to see him as more of a loser, the guppy in a shark tank role, but unfortunately they decided to beef him up and transform him (really he looks like he could play a sixteen year old) into one of the sharks. This results in awkwardly delivered dialog and conclusions of scenes in the most of the sequences where there is a confrontation.
I also found parts of the film needlessly confusing, it would have worked more effectively for me as a thriller had they played and edited it straight through. But instead we are treated to several misleading shots that seem put in simply to confuse the audience and twist the plot away from it's otherwise lackluster ending. I was very pleased with certain elements, and there are some tense, well executed moments, such as the scene in the bar near the end where a robbery seems to be taking place, but really it's something much more sinister. I also really enjoyed all the female performers. But ultimately, it just wasn't my flick. I prefer a movie to develop more organically rather than tether itself to a moral or 'big idea' from the outset, leaving some scenes stranded as necessary social commentary filler. This tends to make actors a slave to the script. But still a thoroughly thrilling film, however disturbing some of the subject matter is, and I'm going to be sure to follow Casey Affleck carefully from now on, the man (boy) has a great career ahead of him.