I knew it would be an absolute crock but I just had to see it for myself and it lived up to it's reputation. Russell Crowe in his first major Hollywood film must have been laughing his bollocks off when he read the script and Mr Washington what were you thinking?
It's directed by the same guy who directed Lawnmower Man. Say no more!
There is no doubt that Ben Affleck is proving to be a far better director than actor and this was well made but lacked the emotional intensity of his previous film Gone Baby Gone.
However I applaud his location shooting and authenticity in using local actors and vernacular.
Decent concept ruined by a gossamer thin plot that just begs to be ripped apart. Bradley Cooper's charm is almost perfect for the film but it straddles the line between wanting to be intellectual and kowtowing to studio execs who assume that the audience need everything explaining to them.
Noel Clarke (Co writer and Director) is becoming a serious face on the British movie scene (Kidulthood/Adulthood) with his succinct juggling of urban tales and glossy commercialism and although this does lack cohesion, kudos to him for creating a film that is almost exclusively female led without resorting to caricature.
A 4 way story a lá pulp Fiction minus the cool factor plus believability worth staying with..