Sickpuppy365

I chose to watch this movie without reading the description or ratings on IMDB, and I also did not watch any trailers for it. I am very glad I did that because after watching (and thoroughly enjoying) it, I went and watched the trailer... Which essentially showed the whole movie but in less than two minutes... I now understand why some people hated this film. However I cannot agree with that sentiment. Many reviewers are describing it as rehashed, predictable and full of plot-holes... I don't think the trailer helped because it showed too much of what is a relatively simple, but not overly-used plot. I suppose many people don't realize that this film deals with a subject that is a real phenomenon, it has a medical name and everything, but is little known and hard to believe. Also, as many arm-chair quarterbacks are guilty of, it is easy to point out characters blunders and short-comings from the laz-e-boy with the benefit of being able to see all the way to the periphery of their situation on the big screen in front of you... Here are the facts... Sarah Paulson brings a level of sinister to her character that I was not expecting having seen her in many other films, yet she also evokes empathy throughout. Newcomer Kiera Allen shocked me with how well she played against the veteran actress, displaying a natural acting ability that assures me she will have a successful career in Hollywood, despite the fact that she actually does use a wheel-chair in real life... The cinematography is super solid utilizing static camera work, mid-closeups and camera angles which enhance the suspense and story-line. This is a competent drama/ thriller, it is not a "horror" movie, and it is paced well, rationing out plot-points, and building the suspense and anticipation to a climax that will leave you satisfied with the end result... Which is a 6.5 IMHO

If you're looking for another syrupy sweet holiday movie to huddle around with the family while sipping hot cocoa and eggnog... Then keep looking, this is not that movie. In this movie, Chris a.k.a the Fatman (Mel Gibson) and his wife Ruth (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) are having serious financial difficulty, and the stress is taking its toll on both their relationship and their business which is in peril of closing down. In order to survive Chris takes on a military contract to make the proverbial ends meet. His staff are forced to use their manufacturing talents in novel ways to help support Chris and Ruth in this venture. Meanwhile Billy (Chance Hurstfield) is busy extorting his grandma, intimidating his competitors and generally being a dick to the household staff... Behaviour which earns him a large lump of coal from the Fatman, and leaves him with a hankering for vengeance. Enter Johnathan Miller a.k.a the Skinny man (Played with relish by Walton Goggins, veteran of the creepy-nutcase-baddie roles), who is hired by Billy to exact revenge on Chris, and who is all-too-happy to take on the hit, because he too has unresolved issues with the Fatman. This movie starts with a novel premise, and builds momentum as it goes along, starting slow and steadily building pace until the final scenes. It is not a laugh-out-loud comedy, it's dark and the humour is in the irreverence to traditional values and common courtesy. The four main characters are adept at eliciting the desired reactions from the audience, the dialogue is witty and poignant, and the supporting characters prop them up with strong performances. Cinematography is fluid and beautiful, from wide snow-filled scenes to facial close-ups, and there's no shaky cam during action scenes. Sound is crisp and helps set the mood well. This is a strong 6.

Is it worth mentioning that the three lead actors are British? Probably not because most people won't notice, they're pretty good actors. Charlie Hunnam (King Arthur) is older brother Stanley who "looks after" younger brother Jack O'Connell (Unbroken) playing Walter who is a skilled fighter. The phrase "if not for bad luck they'd have no luck at all" applies directly to these guys. Their dire situation expectedly leads to spiraling poorer choices which indebt them to a loan-shark who makes them an offer they can't refuse. Thus begins their road trip to a big fight with a big payday... The catch? They have to take Sky (Jessica Barden of Hanna) along with them. Viewers expecting another Warrior or The fighter will be disappointed... This is more a drama. There is a bit of action thrown in to keep fight fans happy, but the film is about the complexities of family relationships, the struggle to realize one's dreams, the hopelessness of failure and redemption of the spirit. The actors suck you into their world and drag you along the seedy and grimy sidewalks of their life. The camera work is very clean, the scenery spans from gritty to beautiful, and the score is always appropriate, but this is a character driven film, and done well.