Okay, first and foremost, the story this film is trying to tell is one that desperately needs telling. Of that there is no doubt. However, is this the vessel to carry that narrative?
Nope.
Ignore talk of "three stories converging" as I read in one synopsis. Instead, the film takes one strong narrative and intersperses it with strange subplots that jar against the overall film.
Mechanically, it's a slog. The timing is slow (which was evident by how many times I felt the need to skip ahead to cut through this). The performances weren't massively credible - a pre Hangover Bradley Cooper looks like he has no idea what he's even doing there and Wes Studi's presence as almost the narrator seems at odds especially when they drip feed a back story that's never fully realised.
On the whole, this film fails to inspire. I'd advocate anyone reading up & educating yourselves on the core subject, but this film won't help you on that path.
Nope.
Ignore talk of "three stories converging" as I read in one synopsis. Instead, the film takes one strong narrative and intersperses it with strange subplots that jar against the overall film.
Mechanically, it's a slog. The timing is slow (which was evident by how many times I felt the need to skip ahead to cut through this). The performances weren't massively credible - a pre Hangover Bradley Cooper looks like he has no idea what he's even doing there and Wes Studi's presence as almost the narrator seems at odds especially when they drip feed a back story that's never fully realised.
On the whole, this film fails to inspire. I'd advocate anyone reading up & educating yourselves on the core subject, but this film won't help you on that path.