Blood and Money

Yeah, I know what you thought when you checked the title. "Another Berenger sell-out." How I loved to hate him in Platoon - he is, after Gregory Peck, the greatest living Ahab (as of this writing). So, for this film... you will be pleasantly surprised.

Mr. Berenger (Jim Reed) actually gets to carry the bulk of the movie! That's right, you only get the glammy sell-out corn near the end, and even then only for a few scenes (essentially, wherever the dialog is overpowered by the f-bomb - I'm no prude, but - come on - get a thesaurus!).

So, you actually get Mr. Berenger at an advanced age playing a somewhat suitable character. While I believe the role is still perhaps ten years ago for most actors, Mr. Berenger plays it eloquently (with just the proper count of sighs, groans, and moans - take this from an old guy). I believe him, and I see echoes of Sgt. Barnes in his demeanor.

If the powers-that-be of this film had allowed Mr. Berenger to play it straight, in character, to the end, they might have had an "art film" on their hands. Such a shame.

Still. Bravo, Maestro. Bravo.

-S

I'm a fan of Tom Berenger so watched the whole 85 minutes of this movie. There is little dialogue and the 5 or 6 characters (Tom included) earn their money by simply walking around in the snow and shooting at each other. Tom tries very hard to be a tired and sickly old timer, Jim Reed, but it is painful to watch this excellent actor in such a crappy role. Clint could have done this better. He's older than Tom. This movie could have been edited to 60 minutes tops. It's terribly tedious and slow.

It starts slow, but reasonably. Yet once the 'action' starts, all logic goes out the window. It's like the filmmakers decided to re-write the script once they got on location and the cold froze their brains.

Was it written by a bunch of high schoolers? The amount of stupid, unnatural, forced and illogical steps the characters take is an insult to the audience and all who are in it. Particularly our old man Tom. And he does seem very old. He should have skipped the trip, driven home and drank a cup of soup.

Actually this boring, lame movie rips off a far better film with it's plot twisting act, being The Aura from 2005. Watch that instead. Even if they went on location without a script they could have come up with something more realistic. You have to blame the director for sticking to the script. The only redeeming quality is the location. And the photography. 5 is generous. Lame as a dementia ridden chipmunk with frostbite.

Underused Throughout His Film Career, Berenger is Still Willing to Step-Up and Brave the Harsh Shoot During a Winter in Maine.

He Carries this Modest Thriller Single-Handedly Disposing of Four Robbers and Murderers.

It's a Not-Bad Character Study with the Weather-Beaten Face and Body of the 71-Year-Old Thespian.

His Character is Next-to-Death Battling Lung-Cancer, Alcoholism, and Devastating Guilt of Killing His Daughter in a Drunk-Driving Accident.

He Fights His Demons as well as the Bad-Guys with Ex-Marine Gravitas.

Worth a Watch for Berenger's Performance and a Good Cat-and-Mouse Game within the Snow-Covered Mountains.

Slow. Sparse. Real. Mournful. Bleak is probably the correct adjective. Suspend belief? And some. Jim Reed isn't Ethan Matthew Hunt but he should be to perform the things he does. With one knee, a bit of timber and a lack of blood. In minus temperatures too. The ending is surprising. And worth the wait. Maybe.