Overrated Masterpiece

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2011)

Overrated Masterpiece. I think thats an oxymoron, but its true. This film is a masterful look at a decomposing city and the unfortunate few who happen to live in it. It features great performances by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman along with Gwyneth Paltrow and R. Lee Earney. I guess I should summarise the plot since this is a review, but didn't you see the movie? Why else would you read an IMDb review? Are you a nerd, like me? But I digress...the film tells the story of two detectives, Mills and Sommerset, who are investigating a series of brutal murders in the form of the Seven Deadly Sins. There you go, ya perfectionist slob. There's my summary. Okay, I'm sorry about being mean so I'm going to describe everything else about the film just so that this will constitute the structures that are built in order to be a review. In fact, I'll indulge myself and create a little meta-review. As said before, Freeman and Pitt (and everyone else yadda yadda) are great in the film. In fact I think Pitts a little like the film: an overrated masterpiece. Seriously, he isn't that good. That is unless if you pair him up with David Fincher or let him star in Babel. Many have praised Fincher's direction post-Se7en as perfection at its best. Many contemporary reviewers, in other word internet nerds (like me!) have praised his direction here. But they seem to forget that they are praising him for praise-sake. His direction here is a little a sophomore in its presentation, lacking the punch of Fight Club (a personal favorite) or Zodiac. Though there is this one shot of the Killer pointing the gun at Pitt's temple. Its simple but I see the depth of the future cinematography of Fight Club. I did right spoiler at the top of this review so I shall spoil. Kevin Spacey is the killer and bloody good one at that. He delivers the part not ironically but with a knowing grimness that Ledger's Joker emulated. He knows what he is doing is bad and he knows that he shouldn't be enjoying what he's doing but he does. And in that comes a great villain. I wish IMDb gave out "1/2's" because a seven's undermining the film but an eight would be pushing it. The film itself is good but not as good as everyone says. As a proper "debut" (Alien 3 doesn't count) though, its up there with Blood Simple and Reservoir Dogs. That's it I guess. I'm never good with endings but to quote Ferris Bueller "What are you still doing here? Out Out!"