Galveston

This is one of the best flicks I have watched in a long time. The story is excellent and the acting is excellent. Definitely worth watching.

Yeesh. This is a tough movie to watch.

This is not an "action crime thriller" as it's categorized on IMDB, because there's only one "action" scene so to speak. This is more like a crime drama, but it's filmed like a thriller. It has that gritty, low-saturated gauze about it.

However, the film itself is about the cycle of people making bad decisions that come back to bite them as they attempt to turn a sour life into a good one.

Ben Foster really is the driving force of the film here; he's a powerhouse on the screen, and he portrays a character of little words. His character's backstory is told through small bits and pieces throughout the film, while the tattoos, facial expressions, and his mannerisms explain the rest.

Yet the film is not a revenge piece like the description may lead you to believe. It's a realistically told crime tale about two people coming out of a really bad situation trying to make the best of it, but they just don't know how. This movie does not follow Hollywood's typical action beats so don't watch this while you're in a depressed state or a low mood.

Even still, Foster has been racking up a filmography of truly worthwhile films. He's been selective and intelligent with his choices, appearing in a lot of indie flicks that hit you hard.

This one definitely hits you hard.

Noir film, brilliantly acted by Ben Foster, who deserves to be a major star. Familiar premise of a hitman who rescues a teenage prostitute and goes on the lam with her and her young daughter. Somewhat overacted by Elle Fanning, who needed to rein in the histrionics - a mistake by the director.. The story holds up well, with twists and turns along the way. Unfortunately the ending lets the whole thing down. Illogical and rushed (as other reviewers have noted!) the story simply peters out instead of ending with a bang. A shame as there was enough good acting and originality to the story to have made it a good watch. Interesting to note that Wikipedia reports the write took his name of the credits when the director made changes he disagreed with. Would have been nice to have seen the original ending instead of the director's.

When you don't have anything to lose, you risk it all ... I mean that makes sense now doesn't it? While we all know we will eventually die, we don't really (like to) think too much about our mortality. So maybe you don't approve of the movie being so blunt and in your face. Not to mention violent and over the top of course.

Ben Foster plays it as straight as he can and he has the innocent looking Elle Fanning at his side. Anyone who has seen her in other roles already knows there is more to her though. In this case we get something I haven't yet seen from her: annoying screaming. It's her character of course, so don't get that mixed up. Thriller is quite nice to say the least, even it isn't everyones cup of tea

Ben Foster and Elle Fanning surprisingly had great chemistry together for such an odd relationship. The filming captured the time period with the exception of a cell phone in a back pocket. It had some interesting twists that kept your attention.