One of those endeavours that makes you wonder "why"? The Paul Abbott-scripted, 6 hour BBC production from 1993 was stand out TV. This is a run of the mill thriller, with way, WAY too much plot shoehorned into 2 hours.
We all know the problems that the producers had when Brad Pitt abandoned the production at the 11th hour (I suspect he'd just read the script). A relief to some, perhaps, but his replacement, Russell Crowe, is irksome in the extreme. Yet again he gives one of those furrowed-browed performances (this time aided by about 50lbs of spare flab and a mane of hair that looks as if it's auditioning for a shampoo advert) that he clearly thinks implies complexity and internal struggle. But not even he can be wholly blamed for the indigestible ending that tries to convince us that he's some kind of morally superior being.
The writers didn't bother the write a character for poor Rachel McAdams, and she doesn't have the star quality to overcome this. I've no idea whether or not Ben Affleck was any good as whenever he was on screen I was trying to decide whether or not he was wearing a wig. Helen Mirren appears to phone in her performance as a grizzled, world-weary editor. She, and the screenwriters, appear to think that she's reprising her role as Jane Tennyson in Prime Suspect.
Despite these significant problems, director Macdonald turns in some good thriller moments. Nothing to raise it above the average, but plenty of scenes rack up the tension more than adequately.
Do yourself a favour- in the UK you can currently buy the BBC original for £3.95 on Amazon. Half the price as a cinema ticket; 3 times the film for your money and about 10 times as good.
We all know the problems that the producers had when Brad Pitt abandoned the production at the 11th hour (I suspect he'd just read the script). A relief to some, perhaps, but his replacement, Russell Crowe, is irksome in the extreme. Yet again he gives one of those furrowed-browed performances (this time aided by about 50lbs of spare flab and a mane of hair that looks as if it's auditioning for a shampoo advert) that he clearly thinks implies complexity and internal struggle. But not even he can be wholly blamed for the indigestible ending that tries to convince us that he's some kind of morally superior being.
The writers didn't bother the write a character for poor Rachel McAdams, and she doesn't have the star quality to overcome this. I've no idea whether or not Ben Affleck was any good as whenever he was on screen I was trying to decide whether or not he was wearing a wig. Helen Mirren appears to phone in her performance as a grizzled, world-weary editor. She, and the screenwriters, appear to think that she's reprising her role as Jane Tennyson in Prime Suspect.
Despite these significant problems, director Macdonald turns in some good thriller moments. Nothing to raise it above the average, but plenty of scenes rack up the tension more than adequately.
Do yourself a favour- in the UK you can currently buy the BBC original for £3.95 on Amazon. Half the price as a cinema ticket; 3 times the film for your money and about 10 times as good.