steveniemi-89906

While I love Thomas Haden Church's roles, especially in Sideways, he in no way should have ever been cast as a southern Colonel, one who was born and raised in 1900's Virginia. His accent is clearly California surfer, which is fine, that's who he is. Cool as a cuke, laid back, suave.

But a southern officer, in Texas, in the early 1900's? Maybe he could have worked with a voice coach, and developed a southern accent, or, maybe they culd have cast someone already fit for the part. He has the look, but not the voice or inflections. He's surrounded by a mix of mediocre to good actors, and his misfitting accent, really distracts.

Good story, and I'm glad it was told.

She really ruins this movie, with her lackluster, deadpan delivery. She doesn't even try. How do actors this get cast? It has to do with "global appeal", and needing to cast actors with certain connections, to make sure seats are sold in certain parts of the world.

Globalization of Hollywood is what's brought modern movie-making down to this level.

The script is far-fetched, but plays on a fun age-old idea of a killer shark (think Jaws but on a grander scale). We're going to need a bigger boat" never rang more true.

He effects were better than I expected, and there were moments that inspired tension and moments of expectations.

But what really, really ruined was Bingbing Li... she cannot act.

I'm not sure how Laim keeps getting roles outside of a made-for-TV Hallmark movies where talent isn't required. He's co-cast with some real talent here, a good script and set, yet, he still manages to bring down the entire production with his flat, forced delivery. He might as well hold the script and read it out loud likes he's at the table read.

The story keeps moving and has some clever twists. Despite some evening and dimly lit scenes, the movie never gets lost in the deep dark shadows.

Some of the dialog and lines are oddly written, making for a weird rhythm at times.

And as others have commented, the story takes place in Montana, is filmed in Canada yet the characters tend to take on heavily contrived "southern" accents. If I had to place the twang, they tend towards the Texas accent and not the heavier Alabama accent, for example.

Hollywood - please fire Liam Hemsworth and save us all.