joebnow

Never expected this series to be so powerful. It's not a "who did it". That's clear from early on, but why did he do it and what are the effects of it. The performances are unbelievably compelling. Everyone gives a beautiful performance, but the kid is standout. The third episode - all filmed in one shot- is outstanding. Watch this kid pick up several awards next year. It is a performance that never feels anything less than frighteningly real. The series is only four episodes, which I thought shortchanged the viewers, but the more I thought about it ( and I thought about it a lot), it had the perfect ending. I've been recommending it to everyone. Miss it and know you've missed something very special.

Nicole Kidman does some good work here. However, the film is just okay. But I don't get the feminist angle. Is it because she gets what she wants in the end and sees herself as a begging animal? That's really weird feminism if that's it. Also for a film that purports to be erotic, it's not so steamy. Lots of moaning, but no nudity. When Samuel is dancing for Romy in the hotel room, both are so puritanically clad that it's really ridiculous.

Samuel is an oddball character. He never really feels like someone who would dominate anyone. Antonio Banderas is virtually incomprehensible. He says something at the end of the film that is probably important but I'll be darned if I know what it is ?

It's not boring. But if this is supposed to show women with all the power, it's kind of silly how it goes about it.

The premise is fascinating, although hardly realistic. However, that aside, it's a pretty decent film, although the truth about the crime should have been revealed much later in the script. It might have added more suspense. Also, the courtroom scenes are so sloppily written and/or poorly edited that they become silly. They needed To go much more in depth in order to make the case more believable. The film really should have been a mini series. There are way too many implausible leaps in the script that could have been helped by additional scenes. I'd say it's a story that could have benefited from seven or eight episodes. The cast is a good one. Toni Collette, JK Simmons, and Chris Messina are always interesting. The lead guy is fine. ( Are his eyes really that blue?!) I'm glad I saw it and I would recommend it , but with real reservations. Still, it's not a bad way to spend two hours on a rainy afternoon.