Reviews

I liked the Safdies first movie (GOod Times) and the use of music , pacing and relatively simple plot all came together nicely in it. This however, was a bumbling wreck on all counts that had so much potential , but poor execution, misuse of musical cues, and a downright annoying Adam Sandler had me checking my phone constantly as it clumsily trudged along. Editing, music and a better lead over Sandler would have made a world of difference. Only redeeming factor was drawing out the final scene which we saw coming for a while. For those of us who aren't absolute degenerates, this doesn't convey anxiety, but rather the need for an advil after how hard it tries to annoy you.

While the acting was excellent , and the on scene cinematography was epic, I knew as I made it through the film this was clearly made and directed by a woman making the most of the feminist movement that would use and overdo the usual themes of "rape", a dry, emotionless white male craving power and the poor oppressed women and black folk. While this was certainly true of 18th century Tasmania and the British penal set up, the film could have done a lot more with the subject matter and dare I say seen things from a higher vantage point. Another issue was the casting of Sam Claflin - a very limited, monotonous actor who really can't do much more than act like a "good ol boy" at a private boarding school. A stronger lead would have done wonders and given a better dynamic to the cruelty of a "lost man". A perfect recipe for the feminist manifesto that wants to be seen as courageous, yet lack the courage to look at the nuances of depravity. I still rate it a 7 for pandering to it's very specific audience, but it still comes off as a B grade movie due to the laziness of the female director in exploring colonial rule.

This was supposed to be more suspense action than an ironclad plot film, a b grade underdog film. But moving around in prison is too easy, as is the escape and all the subsequent events. You can't fault the actors for working with what they are given, but it falls flat as a movie because of the lack of realism. Plus marks for not relying on fancy effects or gruesome violence, but really can't give it more than a 5 for where it goes after a strong beginning and all the elements for a really good thriller. Either commit to strong script or B grade John Wick style, don't turn this into lifetime for criminals.

I like indie films, I like difficult subject matters, and heck, I even like boring films.

But this was BAAADDD. It was painful dialogue , painful in execution and just a prototypical bad relationship from middle school... being played out with adults. Toxic from all angles with a very distorted flow, it DOESN'T have to be like this. This isn't what reality HAS to be like. Every character was just ready to hop on to the first sign of attention from any source.

New leads, changing storylines, it doesn't matter. The Greg Davies family man is still always hilarious to me. Would like to see them focus more on that and just forget about all the eccentric American outsiders who take away from their shine!