What I like about the film is that it is a moral morass, never spelling anything out. It's a clever device that left me hanging on every word, but in the end, what stops this film from being amazing is that it doesn't fire on all cylinders. It doesn't go all the way with the themes I mentioned at the start of this posting. I do not want to say that I felt willy-nilly after the screening, but it is true, the film doesn't end up being nearly as insightful as it sets out to be.
What makes the aforementioned more than bearable is this trifecta: performances, cinematography, and writing.
Those three aspects are truly at the top of the game, and it's a marvel to watch.
Hearing those great actors utter the terrific lines from Shanley only to be shot by Deakins...what more could you want? Well, you could want some more, but it's more than enough to tide you by.
Of the strong contenders this year, I've seen many worse. Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers a very stirring performance that follows the viewer further into ambiguity, and Meryl Streep is great as usual. I feel that last bit is totally extraneous...when is Streep ever less than stellar?
Amy Adams is charming in this role. If I thought buttons were cute, I'd almost certainly say she was as cute as a button.
Viola Davis is good, but almost everyone (if not everyone period) is good in the film. Her performance is quite brief, but subtle and displaying genuine distress. Everything is good, but why have the critics singled her out for all the praise? It isn't really that Earth-shattering, but what do I care?
What I found quite fascinating about the film was how it was in a way the book end to this odd era, the two leads being sort of diametrically opposed in their ideals and the such.
Interestingly enough, when one force demolishes the other, it is unexpected and manages to say something about our society now. Is new always better? Is old archaic for a reason?
Lasting thoughts: impeccable performances, lacking some vital panache.
--DM
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