Attention to details.

Rating: 9/10 (8 October 2004)

I put off seeing this movie, thinking it an atypical thriller (which are fine, if you are in the mood for atypical). I was pleasantly surprised at this movie. Everything was done very well! Story, direction, cast, acting, production... Washington really pull of a great job here, convincing me of his character's burdens without diminishing the realism of the film by over-explaining it. This may be his best. The whole cast was great! One thing I really love about a movie is getting little details right. Technical details like the delay between lightning and thunder. Dialog, sounding not rehearsed (a Walken trademark) as with subtle human mannerisms...lots of little details make this movie special to me. And Dakota, not too precocious with an imperfect smile, really does win your heart. The filming style really adds to the tensity of the movie. The unique use of subtitles, only when necessary to bridge a gap between viewer and information otherwise lost, was outstanding! It prevented any tarnishing of the films realism, and and also added some subtle atmosphere to a scene. I will add this to my collection. Excellent movie!