"Take" is a film constructed in the style of Steven Soderbergh: grainy photography, flashbacks galore, a jittery, hand-held camera, timely social issues. In this case, the film is a micro-study of the unspeakable human toll resulting from violent crime.
Early in the film, it becomes clear to the viewer that there will be a fateful encounter between Ana Nichols (Minnie Driver) and Saul Gregor (Jeremy Renner). Saul's life is in a shambles when he resorts to theft and violence after he is unable to pay his gambling debts and support his seriously ill father. Ana is a mom devoted to the raising her hyperactive son Jesse. The characters have a rendezvous with destiny when a chance occurrence brings them together with tragic consequences.
One of the most intriguing characters in the film is a man of the cloth named Steven, whose job it is to counsel Saul on his final day in prison, as he is about to take the long walk to death by lethal injection. The role of the cleric reveals a major weakness of the film, as Steven attempts to frame the story ethically, philosophically, and theologically as Saul prepares for his role of the "dead man walking."
Unfortunately, the scenes with the cleric fall flat, and Saul seems to have already undergone a significant transformation long before his conversation with Ana. As interpreted by Renner, the Saul that has spent time in prison is now a new man with a remarkable intellect, who appears one step ahead of priest in every argument raised. The Saul in prison bore little resemblance to the manic, violent, and amoral Saul, who stole a vehicle, shot a cashier in cold blood, kidnapped a child, and fled from the crime scene.
Prior to the closing credits, the film's slow crawl attempts to make a strong case in support of "Redemptive Justice," wherein the perpetrator has a conversation in prison with the victim. The goal is to give a "face" to the crime in order for the perpetrator to grasp the consequences of criminal action.
In 2007, 700,000 prisoners were released, and 50% of them will be re-incarcerated within three years. But with redemptive justice, the ratio drops to 8%, according to the filmmakers. While it was difficult to believe this dramatic change based upon the characters in this film, redemptive justice is certainly worth a try, if only the victims had the courage and stamina of an Ana Nichols.
Early in the film, it becomes clear to the viewer that there will be a fateful encounter between Ana Nichols (Minnie Driver) and Saul Gregor (Jeremy Renner). Saul's life is in a shambles when he resorts to theft and violence after he is unable to pay his gambling debts and support his seriously ill father. Ana is a mom devoted to the raising her hyperactive son Jesse. The characters have a rendezvous with destiny when a chance occurrence brings them together with tragic consequences.
One of the most intriguing characters in the film is a man of the cloth named Steven, whose job it is to counsel Saul on his final day in prison, as he is about to take the long walk to death by lethal injection. The role of the cleric reveals a major weakness of the film, as Steven attempts to frame the story ethically, philosophically, and theologically as Saul prepares for his role of the "dead man walking."
Unfortunately, the scenes with the cleric fall flat, and Saul seems to have already undergone a significant transformation long before his conversation with Ana. As interpreted by Renner, the Saul that has spent time in prison is now a new man with a remarkable intellect, who appears one step ahead of priest in every argument raised. The Saul in prison bore little resemblance to the manic, violent, and amoral Saul, who stole a vehicle, shot a cashier in cold blood, kidnapped a child, and fled from the crime scene.
Prior to the closing credits, the film's slow crawl attempts to make a strong case in support of "Redemptive Justice," wherein the perpetrator has a conversation in prison with the victim. The goal is to give a "face" to the crime in order for the perpetrator to grasp the consequences of criminal action.
In 2007, 700,000 prisoners were released, and 50% of them will be re-incarcerated within three years. But with redemptive justice, the ratio drops to 8%, according to the filmmakers. While it was difficult to believe this dramatic change based upon the characters in this film, redemptive justice is certainly worth a try, if only the victims had the courage and stamina of an Ana Nichols.