Symetrical Yet Unbalanced (but in a good way)

Rating: 9/10 (23 February 2008)

Ray, Ray, Ray! We can't help but be captured by his goofiness. His petulance! His pique. He is like a bad puppy. He is what happens when potential and opportunity do NOT cross paths. We are given no real background on any of the characters, only this slice of their lives,but sophistication isn't required here. We see the essence of wastrelism in Ray. The inevitable Greek tragedy of Ken, Ken who should (and does!) know better. In Harry we see the kind of principled villainy that is wierdly common i.e. the bank robber who would never steal a car or say, the rapist who would never stiff a waitress for a tip. Ken and Ray, a fine pair of Irishmen, work for a good fellow named Harry. Ken is the greater tragedy of this comi-tragic and even occasionally sublime duo. This movie speaks of basic humanity in some pretty base humans. There are lines even drunken little people should not cross. Even medieval tower docents can go too far. Elephants do not belong in towers and pompous Canadians do get their beaks bent occasionally. Hookers it turns out may be found in brothels. How bizarre but strangely real this film is. Unfortunately, as seems to be the case in reality, the innocent victims are incidental because the guilty ones are so much more interesting. The real question asked by great film is "who are we?" This Movie asks us again from a fresh perspective.
Colin Farrell finally cast well! Fine acting throughout. 9.5 out of ten for pacing. A modern masterwork; Near poetic. Let's see what our new film maker does next. His own will be a hard act to follow.