Bad Weed

Rating: 5/10 (30 July 2006)

What can go right and what can go wrong? What we have have here is a failure to co-habitate. This one is a test in taking the bad with the good.
A bank robbery is in progress, but we soon realize that there is much more then just a heist happening. We see, in flashbacks, that the robbery has already happened but the police don't know what really went down. They are asking questions of the witness' that tell us the police know nothing. It is eventually revealed that this is no regular run-of-the-mill bank robbery. Indeed much more important thins than money will be removed from this bank.
This Spike Lee joint has an interesting concept and a wonderfully executed script. The outstanding camera work of Matthew Libatique (even though his opening shot in "Requiem For A Dream" is also of a roller-coaster) is consistent throughout the film. Russell Gewirtz's intriguing script is brought to life by superb performances. Clive Owen plays the man inside the bank. Christopher Plummer plays the man inside the mystery. Denzel Wahington plays the man trying to get inside the other character's head and Jodie Foster plays the one trying to sort out everyman's problems.
In the end, this film is a question of morality. In the end we have to decide who is right. They all use deceptive tactics, but are their motives honourable? Do the ends justify the means? This makes for an intriguing plot that keeps you guessing.
So those were the things that worked so what went wrong? To start, the music didn't suit the feel, theme or flow of the movie. Terence Blanchard's score sounded like the discarded theme song from "Night Court." It was extremely distracting when a dramatic moment began and the music was screaming for Crockett & Tubbs to come and save the day. But what this film needed the most was a script editor to save the day.
Too long we get it, they are after something else. Now let the other characters know. Stop hinting at it, because the natives are getting restless. I had already guessed Chistopher Plummer's big secret 20 minutes before they even mentioned it. Why? Because I had 25 minutes before that to guess.
The biggest celluloid crime committed here is the waste of a marvelous performance by Jodie Foster. I understand she's mysterious. I've clued in she's got connections. I got the hint that she's cool, calm and collected now let's do something with her interesting portrayal.
At the end of the movie I walked out moderately entertained. Spike Lee is a great film maker so it wasn't unwatchable. It just was not up to his usual standards. But this is one Spike Lee joint I will not toke again.