Nothing Happens?

Rating: 1/10 (10 April 2008)

For a start I've only voted this a 1* in the interest of equilibrium, it's more like 4*, really.
This is one of those films where nothing seems to happen. There's plenty of killing, lots of beautifully shot locations, excellent acting, and absolutely no character development at all.
When it came to Woody Harrelson's final scene I just didn't care. I knew that this was supposed to be a pivotal part in the story, but even by the time he dies I knew or cared very little for his character, and didn't see how his death could change the outcome of the movie, which seemed from the start to be about an unstoppable psychopath.
I watched this with a friend who was entranced by the performances the whole way through, and when we came to discuss it he couldn't understand why I didn't like it, just as I couldn't understand what he got out of it.
Personally I think it alludes to a depth which it doesn't posses. It's unfair to compare them, but this seems to be caught up in the Saw bandwagon, wherein people are willing to laud praise on a film just because it's filled with grotesque violence.
If I have to sit through 90+ minutes of murders I expect to walk away with new perspective on life. If I just want to watch endless violence without any kind of perspective I can watch the news.