Hylton-Stark's reviews

I saw that this movie only scored 5.4 on IMDb and I wanted to quickly write that it's a whole lot better than that. The movie kept me interested from start to finish. It doesn't slow down appreciably at any point. There isn't an overwhelming amount of action but there is a tense atmosphere throughout. The location is also great. A moody, grey numbers station right out in the middle of nowhere. But the main reason for watching this movie is Cusack who perfectly plays the loner, haunted, tough guy, with a conscience. He's supremely watchable in every frame. In fact, Cusack plays these types of characters better than anything else. He has that suitably detached, dangerous look, down to a tee. He also does ambiguity very well. All of this is displayed really well in the movie. Ackerman is also well cast as the enthusiastic, smart code girl.

I don't normally write reviews but I felt compelled to write this one because of all the criticism this movie has received. Believe none of it. The Son of No One is an intriguing, superbly acted, crime/drama/thriller/mystery. It is rather slow paced, and there aren't a lot of shootouts etc but that doesn't make it any the less compelling. I was hooked from start to finish. The movie is told both from a current perspective and from a series of flashbacks. Two murders that occur in the flashbacks remain unsolved and that has repercussions for the present part of the movie. Someone is talking and someone wants the talk to stop. Channing Tatum's character is a cop caught in the middle of all this. Gradually the story unfolds and the tension rises. Channing Tatum is especially good in his role, but Katie Holmes also shows some acting chops.

The movie isn't that bad. It does have a lame beginning and a lame ending but the middle isn't too bad at all. It really does get you guessing and I found myself switching allegiances every five seconds. Unfortunately Sharon Stone really was too old to play the part of the femme fatal and she does not pull off sexy older woman at all well. She definitely looks like mutton dressed up as lamb. The psychiatrist part is well played and mostly believable, until the last segment of the movie when you feel like yelling at him to wise up. The detective part is also well played but then you wouldn't expect anything less from the talented David Thewlis. So, I have a few criticisms, but all in all, not a bad movie.