Paul
Well, Paul was a bit of a disappointment to me. The stuff about religion is already well documented, and that was a let down for me too, but the first thing that took it down a notch was the realization that this was going to be another “alien on the run from the government” film. I guess, for the first time in awhile, I wanted less plot, or rather less reliance or obligation to one, and more “hanging out” for the characters, seeing more of what Paul could do when not under stress. Maybe next movie, when the cast doesn’t include an extra-terrestrial.
The Debt
Great movie, but not easy to watch. The unease is a consequence of well-directed scenes calling for pain and blood, and these scenes deliver, almost, if not necessarily. There’s two time settings here, one close to modern, and one in the past. Helen Mirren anchors the later time setting, and she’s excellent--no surprise there. And Tom Wilkinson plays a damned dirty bastard--real good at that, he is. The earlier time setting is great because of the inter-play between the main characters--three actors with a nice range of emotion among them. And the guy playing the younger version of Wilkinson’s character is pretty good at being a bastard, but he’s no Wilkinson. Helen Mirren’s counterpart is haunting.
The Debt isn’t like smooth James Bond, and it’s not even smoother than Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace Bond. Well, it’s not James Bond at all. I only bring that name up because the characters in The Debt are secret agents. And to me, they can be put up there along Bond, closer to Bourne (as in 'Identity'), but more real than both. And The Debt is a real good one, whether you’re a fan of James and/or Jason, or not.
Well, Paul was a bit of a disappointment to me. The stuff about religion is already well documented, and that was a let down for me too, but the first thing that took it down a notch was the realization that this was going to be another “alien on the run from the government” film. I guess, for the first time in awhile, I wanted less plot, or rather less reliance or obligation to one, and more “hanging out” for the characters, seeing more of what Paul could do when not under stress. Maybe next movie, when the cast doesn’t include an extra-terrestrial.
The Debt
Great movie, but not easy to watch. The unease is a consequence of well-directed scenes calling for pain and blood, and these scenes deliver, almost, if not necessarily. There’s two time settings here, one close to modern, and one in the past. Helen Mirren anchors the later time setting, and she’s excellent--no surprise there. And Tom Wilkinson plays a damned dirty bastard--real good at that, he is. The earlier time setting is great because of the inter-play between the main characters--three actors with a nice range of emotion among them. And the guy playing the younger version of Wilkinson’s character is pretty good at being a bastard, but he’s no Wilkinson. Helen Mirren’s counterpart is haunting.
The Debt isn’t like smooth James Bond, and it’s not even smoother than Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace Bond. Well, it’s not James Bond at all. I only bring that name up because the characters in The Debt are secret agents. And to me, they can be put up there along Bond, closer to Bourne (as in 'Identity'), but more real than both. And The Debt is a real good one, whether you’re a fan of James and/or Jason, or not.
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