The Forgiven

The sets and landscapes are breathtaking. The cinematography outstanding. The performances are all stellar. And even though the pacing is slow enough to make the 117 min runtime feel much longer, writer and director John Michael McDonagh still manages to capture every special close-up shot and proverbial comment well enough to drive the hidden messages right through your heart.

However, as pretty and shiny as this film is, all the bloated intrigue and drama fails to deliver the true depth of the film. There's just too much filler and not enough substance. This film needed the mysteries and messaging to be harder, and the shallow pretentious eye-candy to be softer. Even the predicable ending could've been more exciting.

Nevertheless, a beautifully shot film with excellent performances that still manages to deliver a thought provoking message when morality is crossed with spoiled and entitled privilege, and the consequences that follow. It's a great one-time watch and a well deserved 7/10 from me.

I don't know the book and this is a movie, and thus a review of the movie. The movie was full of cliches and I had a feeling that it tried to be more than it could do. It was trying to be Agatha Christie kind of mysterious story, failing. There were wannabe characters of this and that which though lacked the charisma and the character. But the trying showed. Great actors Jessica and Ralph didn't shine. Not because they were bad but the movie just didn't work. It got slightly better on the second half, but still left lukewarm feelings.

Moody, ambient film set in the rich beauty of desert Morocco. Suspenseful and full of Moroccan culture and influence. A morality tale between the haves and the have nots. Quite arresting, lush cinematography. I have visited Morrocco this year and appreciated the slice of culture. Tense and surprising.

I'm a huge Ralph Fiennes fan and he didn't disappoint- he was the highlight of this unusual movie of clashing cultures and relationships. Matt White was suave and Jessica can be charming, but most of the other characters were stereotypical cardboard cutouts. The last half of the movie was the best by far. I'm still chewing on what I've just seen, unsure if I really enjoyed it or am a little disappointed. It's worth the highlights in my opinion, but I definitely think there were some missed opportunities to make this a deeper, more meaningful film.

It's not a very long movie so might as well try it.

An out of touch and dislikeable group of misfits, also rans and holier-than-thous, gather in a remote part of Morocco to celebrate and carouse, where an unfortunate accident ends with distress, and the source of the sorrow, must seek forgiveness.

Fundamentally, a film about the disregard, disrespect and contempt we have for cultures alien to our own, as well as to those closer to home, including friends and those more dear.

Whether you dislike the story and/or the characters, the acting and presentation is top drawer.