Levity
Based on a true story.
Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton (Best Writing, Sling Blade), 1997), Academy Award winner Holly Hunter (Best Actress in a Leading Role, The Piano, 1994), Morgan Freeman and Kirsten Dunst star in the gripping, emotionally charged story of a paroled murderer's search to reconcile a single, spontaneous moment in his past who changed the course of his life forever.
Manual Jordan (Thornton) is a convicted murderer who is unexpectedly released from prison after serving a 22-year sentence for killing a store clerk in a failed robbery attempt. Haunted by his past and seemingly lost in the present, Manual is drawn back to his old neighborhood. There, he encounters three people that hold the key to his redemption: a self-destructive young woman (Dunst), an enigmatic inner-city man (Freeman) and the older sister (Hunter) of the boy he killed.
Member Reviews
! - pigtails_in_montreal
Billy Bob seemed to be in a catatonic state during the whole flick. Now he has had a reputation in Hollywood to indulge in "Ecstasy", and other wild narotics. Ever seen him making out with Angelina, his former girl, on interview camera for "Entertainment tonite"? It was very just wierd! Angelina admitted to the camera that they had slipped something under their tongue in the limo. My point is that this movie was annoying because you could tell that he was out of it.Just going through the motions of suposedly acting. However Morgan Freeman was quite believable, though not enough lines, and was his presence really necessary? For Kirsten Dunst, it was just another movie to her roster. Yawn...... Nothing extraordinary. Oh yeah, this movie was filmed in Montreal. Before forgetting, seems Morgan contributed to the production of this movie also. Stick to acting Morgan....and not all scripts deserve to have you in front of camera!Check This One Out - Big_J
I'm not sure how this movie slipped by so unnoticed. The acting is great, the script is thoughtful and the slow pace really works well with the material. Very similar in feeling to Lost In Translation with a completely different story. The story is very oddly similar to Sling Blade. Check this one out it is well worth the time.~ Much Underrated ~ Excellent Character Study ~ 4 Stars ~ - SqueakyChair
SNAPSHOT: Very slow even pace works well. Thornton shines as Emanuel. Engaging. Brilliant. Thought provoking. It is real. Perhaps, too real for some. I found it utterly charming in its simplicity and severe understatements. No high drama here, just plain matter of fact reality with surprising impact.
MORE THOUGHTS: Non-formula plot doesn't go where you expect it to at most turns. If you're not into redemption without Hollywood glitz or uplifting unreality, then this is not the movie for you.
Might I suggest from ZIP.ca
" Sling Blade (1996) "
~~> http://www.zip.ca/browse/title.aspx?f=titleId(116372)
FINAL WORD: ~ NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT GOLDEN FOR SOME ~ or SoSaysSqueakyChair
Member Reviews
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! - pigtails_in_montreal
Billy Bob seemed to be in a catatonic state during the whole flick. Now he has had a reputation in Hollywood to indulge in "Ecstasy", and other wild narotics. Ever seen him making out with Angelina, his former girl, on interview camera for "Entertainment tonite"? ...Check This One Out - Big_J
I'm not sure how this movie slipped by so unnoticed. The acting is great, the script is thoughtful and the slow pace really works well with the material. Very similar in feeling to Lost In Translation with a completely different story. The story is very oddly ...~ Much Underrated ~ Excellent Character Study ~ 4 Stars ~ - SqueakyChair
SNAPSHOT: Very slow even pace works well. Thornton shines as Emanuel. Engaging. Brilliant. Thought provoking. It is real. Perhaps, too real for some. I found it utterly charming in its simplicity and severe understatements. No high drama here, just ...