Pretty When You Cry

Looking over the credits for this movie, it is unsurprising to find that the director has impressive credentials... as a cinematographer. The film is well composed visually. Other than that, this movie fails on so many levels, not the least of which is the horrible, horrible script. "Shocking" plot twists for the sake of shocking twists kill any suspense this film has. The pacing is horrible. After about an hour of the film, you think it is about to end, after another ten minutes, you are PRAYING for it to end. Gratuituos sex and violence are all this film has going for it. Why Sam Elliot agreed to do a movie as tragically terrible as this travesty of filmmaking is anyone's guess? If I was presented with a choice of watching this film again and getting ebola... I'd watch this movie, but it would be a tough choice.

I was enthralled by the female actress who played the lead, I agree she looked like she had a few miles on her, but she did also have a smoldering beauty that begs one to study that face and wonder what had gone so awry in her life. I thought the film did an adequate job of depicting the painful events that forged that face. I liked the film enough to watch it again, as I was channel surfing when I stumbled across it, and didn't give it the attention it deserved. When I finished watching the film I looked forward to the credits as I wondered who the actress was. I wonder if she is a sibling of Shannon Elizabeth? If so, it would be interesting to meet their parents. Both are striking women, and I disagree with the previous reviewer's "crack whore" characterization. Too many Kirsten Dunst pudding faced blonds polluting the big screen already, an edgy brunette was welcome to this viewer!

Okay, this is a "B" flic at least, but I have a lot of fun with B flics. This one, however (despite the convoluted plot) was not laughable. Of course I rented it for the thrills promised, but as usual the S&M were only hinted at. Dumb plot. Still, this movie had *something* you would never see in a mainstream movie: In mainstream movies, everyone turns out to be just who who you thought they were - just who they appear to be - though they may have been led temporarily astray. In this flic, like many forgettable B flics, the characters actually are obsessed or driven by forces that do not reveal themselves in persona, or what is said on the service. The fact that who think is the lead character is not the real lead character is quite a move. The stereotypical victim has been in control all the time of all the action, including the sexual-violent action. Underneath it all this character is not really "good" waiting to be saved by manly heroism. This is real, & refreshing. Too bad we still have the cliche of retribution.

It must have been fairly good since I didn't seem to want to stop watching it, but it's nothing to write home about either. I can say I was surprised by some of the twists and I was never exactly sure of what was going on, but then again, I'm not sure if that was because of the intelligence of the script or because of its abnormality. Still, it deserves a 6 out of 10 for cinematography and a great sound track.

-m0

I got roped into seeing this at a screening on 2nd Avenue. Boy did it stink. Bear in mind i saw this a year ago, and just came across the name, so i am now writing the review and voted.

Seems the writer(s) laid down the best ideas of many movies. Pulp fiction time shifting, 9.5 weeks erotiscim, etc etc. And then tried to put together a movie. But it doesn't work. Sorry I cant remember all the films they ripped off... but i wrote it down on the cards for the producers. But it was a laundry list. And very blatantly ripped off, not 'homaged' to.