Heart wrenching gut grabber

Rating: Null/10 (27 April 2004)

The movie works on a number of great levels, resurrection, redemption, justice, suspense, and finally the triumph of love. All the purists that want to reduce it to so many technical faults or successes simply miss the big picture, you are drawn in from the beginning and kept raptly engaged for the full length...and I, for one, have no regrets at its duration. Denzel plays his role with the proper restraint, anguished but not hand wringing, joyous but not ebullient, vengeful without being merciless and triumphant without arrogance. Dakota Fanning is truly sweet without being cloying, and their relationship never seems forced or artificial. Some have said that the lead in is a bit long, but without the time and attention to the development of this relationship the movie would fail miserably. Christopher Walken, who is worth watching when just reading a phone book, also keeps his often manic persona under wraps. The understanding that he is a thinly restrained dangerous man is transmitted flawlessly. The rest of the supporting cast is more than adequate, with Giancarlo Giannini's character especially intriguing...As you might guess, I recommend this movie.