This story based on true-event of Sylvia (pre-Juno Ellen Page) fresh minded 15-years-old girl who received the taste of rotten society that eventually turned her innocent life around. When Syivia and her sister Jenny left to Gertrude's (Catharine Keener) care via their parents (who are circus workers). Given $20 a month, she is willing to take care of them though she has 5 other kids. Pretty soon they found out that this family is just one sick demented clan who tortured Sylvia in many ways in houses basement, just because she spoke the truth.
What made An American Crime so terrifying without being grotesque is that they injected every little detail into the film. The dog that inch away from its food, the family that overjoyed by jumping up and down on their bed, its effective since we felt that theres something weird with this environment. But we are not sure about that until Gertrude asks her son that who's in charge in this house and he said "you are Momma".
This movie will leave trauma on its audience more than torture porn flicks like Hostel or Captivity has ever dreamt of. And it will make you turn away from the screen without revealing those scenes in graphic details. Whenever Sylvia was tortured, it's cutting to pitch-back which left viewers (myself included) feel anguished. In my opinion, this is such an effective trick that interprets the whole traumatic experience that Sylvia was going to take. Since the cut to black technique was metaphoric and illustrative of what was likely happening to Sylvia's brain and body
But the thing that made me even more traumatized and feels the pain in my chest wasn't Gertrude's act of inhumanity. But it came from her kids and every-fucking-one in that society, who use Sylvia as a punching bag. They thought that its fine since Gertrude who is the house owner didn't mind. In one scene, John, Gertrudes 10-years-old boy persuaded another high-school friend to put cigarette marks on her just for an amusement What kind the world we live in? All these kids that really fucked up and didn't know what they were doing was fucking wrong?
Anyone who has doubt in Ellen Page's career path, worrying about her being smartass or super-intelligence characters will eventually make people bored, this movie will change your mind. Sylvia in this film is just another ordinary southern girl. This is the first time I saw Ellen played passive-oriented character like this. Although her dialogue was limited, but her body language was impeccable, which involved screaming, and every time she wailed I cringed, believing her to be in unbearable pain. This is the role that won't get much of an attention in award season. But this role will be a revelation to her acting career.
Another powerhouse performance came from Catharine Keener. The thing that made her even more sinister than she look, is that she wasn't treated as a monster (even she really is). This is not Nurse Ratchet from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. She is just another depressing mother who freely releases her wrath in a wrong way (and she thinks its okay). You will completely trust her until the moment she mildly slap you in the face like Sylvia used to get. That's how good her performance is.
It might be the good idea if you have a clear mind and not trying to do any research into this story, because it will give you first-handed experience and leave you with a full impact. There's some unnecessary M.Night's touch in the third act, which I think it bring the intensity of this bleak world down a notch. But overall, An American Crime will give you a chilling moment and left you feel pretty anguished. This maybe not a horror movie, but it certainly has the most horror story that I've seen this year so far.
oh...another dark dark movie again... after I read your review I think I won't even go near this DVD the story sorta reminds me of a book I read once "A boy called IT" or something, which is true story about a poor boy who had endured YEARS of abuse by his own mother.
I think slasher flicks like Hostel are not really scary. This kind of "it-could-be-your-nice-nextdoor-neighbour" movies are the real deal that leave you with nightmare long after you watched it
btw, have you watched the hollywood version of "funny game"? I haven't even watched the original one but am thinking if the hollywood version is watered down a bit then maybe I might check it out...
You could have brain tumor by watching this contaminated turd. Nothing in Gentlemen Broncos pays off, it’s incoherent mess, and chock-full of incredibly annoying characters. You will not only loath this movie, but it also makes you want to punch someone who responsible for this abomination in the face.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Imagine if Akira got Live-Action treatment by... say Alfonso Cuarón, you know how awesome it might be? That’s what happened to "Fantastic Mr. Fox". Wes Anderson's auteur perfectly captured the quirkiness and blissful tone of the material. Its stop-motion technique might be a little crude and... somewhat unsophisticated, but that's the charm of it. You’ll feel like pop-up book unveiled before your eyes. This is an exceptional animation of the year.
Up in the Air is a blockbuster movie for people who think blockbuster movies are dumb, as it chock full of brilliantly written dialogue, and acting showcase for three talented actors (especially star-making turn by Anna Kendrick). But in the end, there's little to love, not so much story to chew on (plus disappointing third act), and no real connection to the meaning of human interaction as it intended to be.
BloodyMonday Rating:
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Cliché-ridden plot about a bunch of annoying characters get together in one idiotic circumstance, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is shameless exploitation & biggest insult to 80s teen flicks. It's like memorizing magic trick from internet, hoping to perform like David Copperfield. Neither sense of wonder nor magic flare happens here. Only good thing is, it makes me wanna cleanse my soul with genuine 80s teen movie night marathon.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Everybody's Fine (2009)
Meh. The movie serious lack of originality & characters development. Only Robert De Niro comes out fine in this schmaltzy, "Lifetime" movie-of-the-week plot.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Paper Heart (2009)
Twee delight... That's only two words I can think of right now.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Adam (2009)
A perfect companion to Mary & Max (one of the best animation of 2009), Adam is star-crossed love story (pun intended) between Adam, Asperger's Syndrome bearer, and Beth, free spirit woman. The picture wouldn’t be this intimate without stunning performance by Hugh Dancy. On the other hand, the lack of depth on why Beth would love someone like Adam, preventing me from wholeheartedly embraces her choice in the end (which is nice & perfect but requires a leap of faith). Otherwise, this is touching romantic film, which putting its feet firmly on the ground, making the world full of hope and seems nicer place to live.
BloodyMonday Rating:
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Expected to be like “Click” or “Yes Man”, where high-concept plot turned into endless gags, with moral lesson (forcefully) shoving down your throat. But "The Invention of Lying" is thinking man’s film. The whole concept is not seeing how first lying man exploits the ability. But it's about him finding the way not to lie, in order to find genuine happiness. Great stuff.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Give ‘Em Hell Malone (2009)
This is one damn frustrating experience. It’s like watching an infant trying to stand up and walk. They would take a few steps then fall their asses. In fact, kiddie film like “Bugsy Malone” has done better job paying a tribute to film noir than this borefest.
BloodyMonday Rating:
Zombieland (2009)
ถ้าอังกฤษมีหนังซอมบี้ฮาแตกอย่าง Shaun of the Dead แล้ว ทำไมอเมริกาจะมีบ้างไม่ได้... Zombieland คือการผสมผสานระหว่างบรรดาหนังซอมบี้เก่าๆ เข้ากับทัศนคติของคนสร้างที่อาจดูหนังแนวนี้มากเกินความจำเป็น จนสามารถสร้างหนังซอมบี้ที่เข้าใจสิ่งที่ตัวเองเป็น และเล่นสนุกไปกับกฏพื้นฐานของซอมบี้ได้อย่างเต็มที่ ทั้งนี้ทั้งนั้นต้องยกความดีให้สี่นักแสดงนำ โดยเฉพาะ วู้ดดี้ ฮาเรลสัน (เขาเกิดมาเพื่อบทนี้) ที่ช่วยกันสร้างมนต์เสน่ห์ ให้กับการเดินทางในโลกไร้มนุษย์ได้อย่างเต็มที่
หนังมีไอเดียกิ๊บเก๋ ทำออกมาได้สนุกสนานสไตล์ซิตคอมอังกฤษ โดยเฉพาะการนำกฏเหล็กต่างๆจากหนังที่เกี่ยวกับการท่องเวลา (ดูเหมือนว่า Back to the Future จะเป็นแรงบรรดาลใจหลัก) มาปู้ยี้ปู้ยำอย่างเมามัน ถึงแม้ว่าตลอดเวลาการรับชมจะให้ความรู้สึก เหมือนตัวเองกำลังดูซีรี่ย์ทางโทรทัศน์ แต่มันก็คือตอนที่ฮาที่สุดของซีซั่น แถมเอฟเฟ็คที่ใช้ก็มีคุณภาพจนคาดไม่ถึง
BloodyMonday Rating:
Looking for Eric (2009)
มีความรู้สึกว่าหนังเรื่องนี้มองโลกในแง่ดีเกินบรรยากาศโดยรวม จริงอยู่ว่าทุกสิ่งทุกอย่างที่ลงเอยด้วยดีในตอนสุดท้ายนั้น สามารถสร้างความสุขและรอยยิ้มให้กับคนดู แต่จากสถานการณ์ในเรื่องและบริบทที่เกิดขึ้นก่อนหน้านี้ มันยากที่จะทำใจเชื่อในสิ่งที่เห็น โดยเฉพาะพล็อตรองเกี่ยวกับปืน ซึ่งถ้าถูกตัดออกไปและหนังยังดำเนินเรื่องอย่างที่เป็นอยู่ Looking for Eric ก็น่าจะเป็นหนังฟีลกู้ดที่อบอุ่นที่สุดเรื่องหนึ่งของปีเลยทีเดียว
how have you been ka? 
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