As I mentioned in the summary, this movie can be very confusing. One thing that makes it very confusing is the flashback sequences that you don't realize are flashbacks. Using flashbacks to flesh out the back stories for characters is certainly nothing new, most directors will change the character in some way,(glasses, different hairstyle, etc ...)if the character looks the same then they may use an effect so the scene looks different, letting the viewer know that this is a flashback, failing those 2 methods, some directors will put a specific piece of music to flashbacks in OD however the main character looks exactly the same, unshaven, wrinkled clothes, he is without a doubt the least hygienic movie detective I have ever seen. I could see why he would have looked that way when he was drinking on the job, hanging out in a strip club, sleeping with strippers but at the start of the movie he is supposed to have been clean for 2 1/2 years. I mean c'mon clean yourself up.
Once you get by the very confusing time line and the problem with flashbacks this is not a horrible movie. The acting in fact was really quite good. I had never heard of Stephen Dorff but he did well as the protagonist, James Woods is always great, especially at being the bad guy, in fact he seems like he's the bad guy even when he plays a good guy.
I gave this movie a 6 because I thought it was worth the 90 minutes that it runs. As you would expect it has to move pretty fast to get the plot fleshed out, this probably accounts for some of confusing shifts and characters that are involved but you have no idea who they are. I didn't feel like I wanted my 90 minutes back, but it is not a movie I will see again.
Once you get by the very confusing time line and the problem with flashbacks this is not a horrible movie. The acting in fact was really quite good. I had never heard of Stephen Dorff but he did well as the protagonist, James Woods is always great, especially at being the bad guy, in fact he seems like he's the bad guy even when he plays a good guy.
I gave this movie a 6 because I thought it was worth the 90 minutes that it runs. As you would expect it has to move pretty fast to get the plot fleshed out, this probably accounts for some of confusing shifts and characters that are involved but you have no idea who they are. I didn't feel like I wanted my 90 minutes back, but it is not a movie I will see again.