Uncertain verdict

Rating: 7/10 (14 July 2008)

I'm not certain how to rate this film, especially after reading many of the negative reviews. Some dealt with its authenticity in relation to the book, others with the actors, others with the settings, etc. etc. etc. As for the positive ones they seemed to praise it for the exact same reasons.
I haven't read the book so I can't pass judgment but I do know it's usually a bad idea to compare a film with the book it's based on. It's simply impossible to accurately follow a book. Even Peter Jackson had to skip a few scenes in LOTR and he had some six hours to tell that story. A film must be seen as an independent artistic work that tells a story either successfully or not. As for the acting I can't say I was bowled over by anyone's performance. Freeman and Harris were effective if predictable. I've seen their act before. I'm not all that familiar with Casey Affleck or Monaghan but their performances were believable. Overall I found all actors to be good at their portrayals.
Personally I like films that make me think. And this did just that. My wife and I talked about it for a long time after we got over the shock of the ending. We debated the characters' motives, whether their actions were justified or not, whether they were reprehensible or not. How we would have reacted if faced with that situation and how far we would go to save a child. So from that angle this film was a success.
Bottom line, to me this film succeeds because it raises valid questions about the value of conscience. After all Afleck's and Monaghans's characters are driven by their conscience although they arrive at diametrically opposed decisions that affect the rest of their lives. And here again the film succeeds.