Great drama, great cast!

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2003)

I got to see this atmospheric and dark drama at a test screening in Hamburg. It must have been the final cut since it had already been showing at the Cannes festival. What can I say: it is Eastwood's best movie since The Unforgiven! A great script by Brian Helgeland, an outstanding ensemble cast and a magnificent direction is combined into a complex and interesting tale that will keep you guessing until the end. I won't give away anything about the plot nor any spoilers. But it is a story with characters that you care for right away.
The acting is superb! But that was no surprise. Especially Kevin Bacon gives a tremendous performance as a cop. It's another memorable role in his impressive career that should get the recognition this gifted actor deserves. Tim Robbins is superb as well as a man haunted by terrible memories he experienced as a child. All I can say: go see this movie, even though it's fairly slowly paced. It is a pleasure to see that classical story telling has not died yet. The film is definatley a candidate for Best Movie at the Academy's in 2004.