This one will tear your heart out. It waits until the end, though. I like how they managed to build it up, and keep you guessing, until the very end when they just slam it down on ya in the most unexpected way. I mean, I went into this knowing that it was going to be sad and tragic, but it ended up being so much more than I could've ever imagined. The ending is genuinely shocking.
It starts out pretty disgusting. It fools you into thinking this is going to be a different kind of movie than it turns out to be. I wouldn't say it was perfect. There were moments where it just rushed and skipped over a whole lot, and it felt a bit jarring when it did that. Also, there are some parts which were a little bit of stretch, like what happens to his grandfather. It's just a movie, though. Overall, it turned out pretty good.
I felt that Mr. X Files did a decently convincing job. It certainly didn't seem like the sort of role he would play. I thought he felt a little bit off, but did an adequate job. Considering how much of a mess he managed to avoid, I think it was a good performance. The woman playing the wife, though. She should go back to waiting tables. Fortunately, this experience was brief enough, and the rest makes up for it.
The men who played his not-the-father did a really good job, all of them. The scenery and set design was all very immersive and believable. The ambiance of his surroundings played a strong role in how I felt about the situation. I grew up around some of that, and thought it all felt really convincing. I would say they got it pretty accurate, alright.
Oakes, however, did the most amazing job. He's always been such a good actor, and really good at endearing himself to the audience, and making you care about him. He can break your heart with just his facial expression, alone. Or, he can make himself so incredibly charming with his smile. He has some real talent, and he did a phenomenal job in this film. He kept me captivated from beginning to the very end. I can't wait to see more movies starring him. I sure hope they make some, soon.
If, like I did, you're thinking you might find this movie boring, then let me assure you that it was never a dull moment. It had car chases, armed robberies, and police escapes throughout. The whole thing is very scenic, and at times hideous, and other times beautiful. I kinda felt like Oakes was a little too pretty for this role, but I'm NOT complaining. He sure got really good looking in a hurry. I remember watching that interview he did after the Goldfinch and being blown away by how much he changed. Well, he did not disappoint.
I highly recommend this movie as one that'll keep you guessing until the very end, and leave you surprised and awestruck. The ending really caught me off guard. I'd like to see you try and keep those tears inside. Yeah, you just try it. I found that I couldn't possibly steel myself against all that. It turned out to be quite a story. I'll bet you'll enjoy it a lot more than you think you will.
