Felcher's best - very underrated

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2016)

I know it's got about an 8/10 here on IMDb but its metascore is only 61, which is a ridiculous average, and overall people just never ever ever talk about this film although by my count this is a better film than Seven or Fight Club which weren't as clever or well constructed or intelligent as this one, and they get a ton more notoriety. Douglas is just superb in this one, and Penn, Unger put in very good performances as seconds too. It's a film which concept is so concise you'd think it should be made into an episode of a mystery-type series, and that it could never work out as a 2hrs+ silverscreen production, that its plot would run out of breath too soon and that it would need a bunch of exterior elements added to the plot to keep it relevant and that eventually the dynamics of it would be bent towards the middle-to-end area because the twist seems obvious etc... but none of that. None of it at all. The film is completely coherent with its tamed, nightly atmosphere. It is subtle and vows to put most technical questions about the plot the viewer may have to sleep. It's very careful and professionally handled in laying out all the premises and details necessary to making the plot possible, plausible; and til the very end, we are truly kept away from the secret. The twist is very strong, and a satisfying release of tension, with questions answered; and quite moving too. All in all, very ambitious project, and: mission accomplished. Superb piece.