Pretentious

Rating: 3/10 (14 July 2004)

This film had such an amazing lineup of actors but it was pretentious and out of touch. The imagery was gratuitous and the film making in your face. Sean Penn's ex-con, Boston-blue-collar poetry was laughable! John Edwards talks about out of touch! I'm sure the kind of guys they portrayed are not prone to such Oprah-esque emotionally and philosophically charged outbursts as these men who are so in touch with their feminine side. The Catholic (how many times did they mention the first communion? WE GOT IT!The crucifix over Marsha Gay Hardon's shoulder.)imagery juxtaposed upon the heinous acts (communion to bloody crime scene)is overkill or worse. How many times did we need to see the dead body, the father's grief upon realization his daughter was missing, in the pond, in the ditch, in the hospital, in the morgue? It was so forced! It reminds me of the recent seasons of ER on television. Every week, the most horrific things must be SHOWN to keep upping the shock value. It's worse than porn.
I've always liked Clint Eastwood but this whole movie just seemed like directorial muscle flexing and actors' bravado. Not only were lines written and performances given (seemilngly) with Oscar in mind, it was way too long!