LGwriter49

This taut little thriller, directed by first-timer Mark Fergus, is a real gripper with intelligence to spare and some seriously powerful stuff. The protagonist/anti-hero, Jimmy Starks (Guy Pearce in a role that hauntingly echoes his work in "Memento"), is a salesman/con man who easily slides in and out of legit selling and shady conning. Pearce carries this off beautifully, and is ably abetted in his downward spiraling tale by J.K. Simmons as Vaccaro, the strangely prescient soothsayer, William Fichtner as Jimmy's friend Ed, and some really great unknown actors in other supporting roles, principally the actor playing Jimmy's boss, who will hopefully go on to do more work on film (he's terrific).

Jimmy accidentally meets up with fortune teller Vaccaro who accurately predicts a win by a local college basketball team that Jimmy's bet on, as well as a windfall from an on-the-level business deal that Jimmy's involved in. What Vaccaro does not predict is the riveting, ever-darker series of events that ensue when Jimmy finds out that a former partner of his in a crooked scam, Vince, is now out on parole from a stretch in the slammer.

For my money, this is the best American noir thriller of the year so far, and would make a great addition, once it's out on DVD, to anyone's library of neo-noirs. The ending in particular is really strong--always the mark of a well-made film.

Try not to miss this. It's great.

Network executives made a huge error by putting this on the Saturday morning roster because the humor was so fresh, biting, witty, and sharp that it was WAY over kids' heads. And THAT is the reason it disappeared after only one season. This was a phenomenally clever show and if it ever comes out on DVD I will be one of the first to grab it, immediately.

The wit and zingers are fast and furious here and along with Ren and Stimpy and, on many occasions, the Simpsons, this should be counted as the best use of animation in a series for TV. But definitely, as mentioned, not for kiddies. I mean, let's face it. There was actually a total BABE in this show whose beautiful chest was definitely noticeable. Is THAT a kid's cartoon show character??? I think not.

I was sad to see this go, just as I was sad to see Ren and Stimpy go, and also another show, not animated, Get A Life with Chris Elliot which, luckily, WAS released on DVD--at least eight of the episodes anyway. Zany TV shows that poke fun at social conventions don't last. That's really too bad. It's too bad the majority of the public wants safe pablum to swallow like so much warm mush which they just dribble all over themselves. The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley was one of those shows that, rather than being warm bland tasteless mush, had some real kick, zing, and bite.

It's sorely missed.

Making subtle yet penetrating use of what can now be called 21st century flashback--based on films like Amores Perros and several others--the director of this excellent 2005 Norwegian film, Sara Johnsen, has crafted a near-masterpiece that centers on the loss of a child. The main character, Victoria, a pediatrician originally married and in a large city (one presumes either Oslo or Bergen), has moved to a small town following her divorce and a much more traumatic event as well.

The discovery of the body of an Iranian refugee boy in the snow draws into the story the local cop, his wife--a friend of Victoria's--the boy's parents, and the local snowplow driver, Kai. The scenes of Victoria's former life with her husband and son are so skillfully woven into the pattern of this film that the contrast between that life and her present one--alone--is absolutely riveting. Her involvement with Kai is an integral part of this story and is done just as skillfully, with great depth of feeling.

The resolution of the mystery of the Iranian boy's death converges with the emotional resolution that Victoria reaches regarding her own son's loss. The plotting here is flawless, and the acting is superior. Sara Johnsen is, based on this very strong debut, a real talent to watch in Norwegian film-making. I was lucky enough to have seen this film in New York City's Lincoln Center, during their Norwegian Film Festival.

Very highly recommended; one of the top ten films of the year.