blues9981

This is an episode that people will talk about for a long time. Ruffalo and Pelphrey will definitely get Emmy and Golden Globe noms and possible wins. I don't want to give away anything here but this is the most riveting hour of tv I've seen in years. The opening shoot-out lasted for nearly 20 minutes and it was stunning. Breathtaking. One scene toward the end is just two guys talking, with some of the best dialogue ever written and some of the best acting ever filmed. This is a spoiler free review. Just watch it. Trust me.

If you read the logline, you'll know what it's about, so I don't have to dwell on that part. A little backstory on me: I cut school one day in the mid-80s when I was 15 and read the Stephen King book on crosstops (it's a drug like speed and drinking a gallon of coffee, not recommended, kids) and my heart was beating a million beats a minute as I plowed through the whole book in one sitting. It's a brutal relentless masterpiece and the film is the best King adaptation in many years. The concept was so far-fetched to me when I was a kid (and also an adult), but I believed it then and I believe it more now. Our country has gone completely sideways (not an opinion, truth). The emotion of the performances blew me away. Great acting, great characters, great dialogue and directing. Very similar to the book but there are a few major differences. Highly recommended.

Probably the one thing a filmmaker doesn't want to hear about his or her film is indifference. If you love something or hate something, that means you care about it and it incites some type of passion. If you watch something and say "meh" it is neither. If you've read a couple reviews or a logline, you know what the film is about. Similar plot to other movies you've seen, but this one looked better. The trailer looked exceptional. I love the actors, particularly Vanessa and Jennifer, and was looking forward to it. And then.....meh. There's a scene toward the end where the actresses look at each other and you can hear the director in the background saying "tell the story with your eyes," and you get long stares. At the end of the day, I didn't buy the lead's dopey decisions and none of it was realistic but there were a couple well-paced entertaining action scenes. But I didn't buy any of it. Your mileage may vary. Meh.