Best movie I've seen in A LONG, LONG TIME.

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2005)

This movie was brilliant. Every now and then, a really great director, a great cast, a great screenwriter come together and make some real movie magic. It doesn't happen at this level very often. I thought this film was almost flawless. I suppose like with everything, you could put it under a microscope and chop it to bits. I think that is the sign of a very poor film "critic". Films need to be judged on their own merit, and like in literature "suspension of disbelief" is critical. I usually find Tony Scott's flicks way over the top (and I love over the top). This really succeeded, not over the top, right at it. I thought it was great, both technically (the editing I found disorienting the first time that I watched it, but it's positively sublime) and emotionally. WOW!!! Not Academy material, but very much Academy Award worthy.
Now I'm going to make some people really angry. I think it is almost as good as DePalma's Scarface. Not as shocking, and Creasy doesn't swear. But a very honest and violent film made by a very passionate director, written by a genius, and starring a powerful leading man giving an unbelievable performance. The chemistry between Washington and Fanning is amazing. When she gives the St. Jude medallion to him...