tarmer1

The most average rom-com possible. Hallmark films have more life and originality. I found myself longing for a guy in flannel to sweep the lead of her feet. While those films have the same basic storyline at least they're entertaining.

Vanilla ice cream is my favorite. Vanilla movies are not. Who doesn't like Reese Whitherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. But not in this dull, flat, lifeless film.

Steve Zahn and Tig Notaro were wasted and those roles could've been played by no name up and coming actors to at least give someone new a shot.

Perfectly generic. At least it had a good budget so the production value was nice. Good job with the LED volume scenes in New York.

Mark Rylance's performance in this film makes it well worth watching. The film is not your typical fast paced Superhero action film that people are so used to today. The film has a Lawrence if Arabia-esque setting and is thoughtfully directed like films of that era. Director Ciro Guerra takes his time and allows the actors to carry the film. It's not a quick cutting, move the camera just for the sake of moving it film.

It is actually something of a Biblical Alegory. The themes of honor, commitment, empathy and purpose resonate throughout. Rylance as the Magistrate embodies the role as something of a Christ like surrogate. Not in the sense of a divine nature but in the characteristics of caring for people. He cares for the sinners, the ones that society deems the lowest. Without spoiling anything, a couple of scenes illustrate this beautifully in the washing of a woman's feet and a Crucifixion parable.

The villains portrayed by Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson are Pontius Pilot and Roman Centurions. While these characters don't have enough screen time to fully arc. There is development of their characters.

A beautiful film with great acting is always something to be savored and enjoyed.

Art of Pain is an excellent example of all that is good in Independent film-making. A fun, amusing, well made feature that gives the viewer 90 minutes (or so) of solid entertainment. A mashup of styles and genres that does what films like this are supposed to do, entertain.

With quirky writing and cleaver dialogue the film pulls you along and keeps you chuckling all the way through. It's a film for people who get IT whatever IT is. And IT can be different for different people, that's why it's so good.

Definitely catch a screening if you can and hopefully you'll be able to grab it on DVD sooner rather than later.