This is an episodic, derivative and mildly predictable construction that fails to deliver on a promising core. Although hammering in all the cliches of the genre, it could have been made more taut and intriguing, but somewhere along the line it devolves into a glutinous mess of awkward relationships, predictable plot twists (that don't really twist much), unnecessary characters and dangling ends that were discovered too late in the process and hastily patched in. Not to mention an almost complete failure to carve out convincing character arcs, least of all the ex-bottle-friendly cop (played by Benjamin Bratt), a gloomy gent who divides his time between battling his demons and borderline-stalking Katie Holmes (an activity which, surprisingly, wins him her affections).
Katie Holmes delivers a convincing performance in a stereotyped persona that succeeds in completely stifling her obvious potential. Mr Charlie Hunnam gives his best Gary Oldman interpretation in his sporadically impassioned outbursts befitting the artistic prodigy he tries to prove to us he is. The best performance in the movie, however, is by Zooey Deschanel who plays Ms Holmes' room-mate - a trippy, over-the-edge young lady dealing with some subtly disclosed emotional baggage.
I'd hesitate to give it more than a 5 out of 10.
Katie Holmes delivers a convincing performance in a stereotyped persona that succeeds in completely stifling her obvious potential. Mr Charlie Hunnam gives his best Gary Oldman interpretation in his sporadically impassioned outbursts befitting the artistic prodigy he tries to prove to us he is. The best performance in the movie, however, is by Zooey Deschanel who plays Ms Holmes' room-mate - a trippy, over-the-edge young lady dealing with some subtly disclosed emotional baggage.
I'd hesitate to give it more than a 5 out of 10.