Lathe_of_Heaven

I suppose I agree with 'Bob the Moo' on this one; fairly entertaining, definitely WOULDN'T have chosen Lambert as a world renowned chess genius, Diane Lane does the best acting, etc. (I know 'etc.' doesn't REALLY work here, but... : ) Anyway, main complaints are the script and direction. VERY good idea and I wouldn't have minded Lambert so much if the bloody direction had been better. I mean, even WITH the so-so script a GOOD director (emphasis on the word 'Good'...) can make anything work, tighten up the story, camouflage the weak points of the script or actors, etc. (THIS time 'etc.' works : )

Could have been a REALLY great, very much like as one misguided poster here states, Hitchcockian film. I WILL say though that the opening scene was done very beautifully; the B&W photography, staging, and mood are excellent. It just would have been nice if the REST of the film had followed suit.

But, don't get me wrong, there are a LOT of other FAR, FAR worse films out there...

________________L@the

Sigh... Well, plain and simple I FULLY agree with the reviewer and poster listed in my 'Summary'... Although I wouldn't be as rough on the visuals and camera-work; I mean that was just about ALL this film had going for it.

Okay, here is my primary complaint: Now, with this kind of VERY simple story and few characters, the, uh... CHARACTERS are rather important to carry the story, make you care, etc., right? So, when the characters start acting in TOTALLY unbelievable and contrary ways, spouting COMPLETELY plastic and unrealistic dialog, have absolutely no realistic interactions what so ever..., well..., what the HELL is left either to care about or enjoy? One example, and I won't give away any 'Spoilers', I'll 'speak' in generalities, is where up front the wife immediately reacts that keeping the money is 'NOT LEGAL', 'WRONG', 'STEALING'..., right? Okay, so her character is established right away as kind of stuffy, self-righteous maybe, okay? Now, without giving away exactly WHAT happened, but let's just say it was REALLY bad. Now like all of, what, a DAY later her husband tells her that he did this REALLY, REALLY bad thing. Her reaction: without blinking she calmly says 'Well, I guess you felt that you had to do that' Uh..., can you say, 'COMPLETELY BLOODY INCONSISTENT!!!!!???' GEEZ...!

I admit that going into this film I had VERY high expectations because it was directed by Sam Raimi; but I will tell you that this was some of the WORSE dialog and direction of the CHARACTERS that I have seen from a competent director. The OVERALL direction and look of the film was okay; but the direction of the CHARACTERS sucked BIG HAIRY UWE BALLS!!! Sorry... It wasn't the ACTING that was bad; all the actors are great actors. But it was WHAT they were given to say and HOW they were told to say it.

I mean, just the other day I watched 'A LITTLE TRIP TO HEAVEN' which I thought TOTALLY sucked; mainly because of the lame dialog, pacing, etc. But after seeing THIS film, although the actual acting was better, at least in 'ALTTH' the characters were somewhat believable and consistent if not very appealing...

HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE...

________L@the

I do not usually like this kind of 'Science Fiction'; I MUCH prefer the more 'entertaining' and stylized visions of the future that are not so DAMN gritty and realistic (such as 'Dune' and 'Bladerunner' for example ~or even Star Trek and B-5 to be honest~) BUT, and it'a a BIG ONE like Mariah Carrey's (YUM! : ) I do absolutely HAVE to admit that this film is not only made extremely well, but I feel it does indeed accomplish EXACTLY what the director wants it to do: To give us a VERY realistic and believable warning as to what COULD very well happen in the near future based upon a number of his political observations.

That is why although I personally would not CHOOSE this kind of film for my usual type of preferred Science Fiction, I MUST admit that I was powerfully moved many times during the film. And I LOVED the soundtrack; can you friggin BELIEVE that they played 'IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING' by King Crimson!!!?? DAMN!!! ANYONE that does that earns MY respect, I'll tell you : ) Seriously though, EXTREMELY well made film *** IF *** you like and appreciate your Science Fiction to be VERY realistic and cautionary. MANY, MANY people here criticize the film simply because it's just not their 'cup of tea', so to speak. And, it is not normally mine either; but that certainly does NOT mean that it is in ANY way a bad film...

___________________L@the