Commendable Effort

Rating: 7/10 (21 January 2019)

5 March 2007. This lengthy crime mystery murder movie in a way reflects a more realistic scenario that crime investigations actually take, but unfortunately the expected dramatic path is strewn with such a slow pace unlike classic "All The President's Men" (1976) released only two years after Watergate occurred (of which that movie was about). The acting while revealing, particularly that of Jake Gyllenhaal, his character didn't translate into a substantive understanding about himself - his portrayal was more superficial than substantive, raised more questions than answers. Robert Downey Jr. and his performance was entertaining and more interesting wasn't a far stretch nor unique as a personality than his other on-screen personas. Perhaps the most memorable role was that played by Mark Ruffallo, as a dogged detective who must face the realism of his pursuit of this case in the end. Overall, this long movie itself represents the more gritty and routine side of crime, but without the needed cinematic magic that the best movies can offer. Seven out of Ten Stars.