I wasn't expecting much when I watched the Factory because of the erratic reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Mike Fletcher played perfectly by John Cusack, is a workaholic cop obsessed with a case about missing prostitutes, assumed dead but no bodies were ever found. Mike is also a loving father to his feisty daughter Abby, played by Mae Whitmanand, who also does a fantastic job of portraying a love sick, rebellious young girl who feels her mother is a tyrant because she wants her to follow the rules. Father and daughter have a special bond and though Mike works too hard, he's there for Abby and seems to be the only one who can reach her. Mike is a dedicated family man, but his obsession with the case causes him to work late hours and frustrates his wife, played by Sonya Walger, who does a good job of playing the devoted but frustrated wife and mother. I would have like to have seen a bit more of her in this film, since the true message of this movie is ultimately about family. Mike's partner played by the brilliant Jennifer Carpenter, is not only mikes partner but also a family friend. She is always there for Mike, checking on his progress with the case and backing him up with the boss. The other bright star of this film is Dallas Roberts who's acting really brings life to his character. His portrayal was not at all what you would expect and that just delighted me.
This movie was very well done, from some really good acting to excellent production and cinematography. I gave this movie an 8 star rating and it's well worth a watch. There are ratings for this movie all across the spectrum from 1 star to 10 stars. My advice is ignore the crappy reviews, some folks just like to hate. Some of the crap that has come out in recent years, especially in this genre, I think is to blame for some folks burnout on the genre. But this one is great, I would have liked to have see a touch more character development in a few spots and bit more juxtaposition of the good vs. evil concepts this movie offers. The important thing is this movie does offer some really layered concepts. Any movie that can deliver a surprise and this one has a couple, is a treat in my book. The factory kept me on the edge of my seat in suspense, It's rare that I find myself rooting for characters and I was SO glad they didn't Disney it up with a typical Hollywood ending.
