A Tale of Two Halves

Rating: 6/10 (9 September 2012)

This isn't necessarily a bad film, but it does indeed suffer from a lack of directorial discipline. The first half of the film, though riddled with fanatical implausibilities, is thoroughly entertaining and intelligently engaging. Nevertheless, this promising first hour is all but squandered in a second half plagued by silly expedients and laughable plot twists. In my opinion, the entire second half of the film felt rushed. For example, the acting, which had hitherto in the film enhanced the believability of narrative action, fell off entirely. The last fifteen (or so) minutes of the film are directed with such a sense of slipshod nonchalance that one can't help but feel like they're watching an entirely different film. The saving grace for the film is, in my opinion, the star power of Matt Damon coupled with a captivating first hour.