It's no "Unforgiven" but it is a pretty good view of a very hard subject

Rating: 5/10 (23 October 2003)

It is a very hard thing for any parent to lose a child. Have one murdered, and on a personal note my wife and I have endured such a thing for our 17 year old son, it is the most horrible thing imaginable.
Eastwood takes this very dark and hard subject head on and I admire his zeal. Sean Penn tries his best to capture the horror but he may be trying too hard. He is good but it is just short of the mark.
Tim Robbins is the character that one cannot forget. He is tortured and mystical as well as pragmatic and understated. His work is worth award consideration I feel.
To stay away from spoilers I won't visit the outcome of the story. But let's say this. It took some real metal for my wife and I to make it all the way through some of the very hard scenes. In the end we were glad we hung in there and I think you will be too. This is not an award winning movie but a very good and brave attempt at a gut wrenching story.