tomt71

This could be the most overrated film of all time, despite some good acting. For once, Robin Williams isn't annoying as psychologist who tries to get through to a boy genius with a bad attitude, who would rather work construction every day and drink beers w/his blue collar pals every night then get a high-paying job that puts his tremendous intelligence to use.

I really wanted to see this because SO many people told me I'd love it and I really didn't. I hope I'm not giving too much away but is the point of the movie: He had a huge chip on his shoulder because he was abused as a kid? I thought they said that 5 minutes into the movie but then it plays like some amazing revelation at the end. Big deal!! Lots of people are abused as children and DON'T grow up to be assholes.

I realize lots of nerdy comic books fans seem to worship this film, but there's really nothing special about it, besides the stellar soundtrack.

Basically, a crime is committed and the hero goes out and gets revenge on the bad guys. Gee, I don't think I've ever seen that plot before. ...Except for the four or five Death Wish films that Charles Bronson made in the 70s and the countless tiems they've all been ripped-off.

Maybe Brandon Lee could have become a good actor and not just a karate guy but we'll never know. Sure, this film looks kinda cool because it's so dark and raining every 2 seconds ... but we've all already seen Blade Runner and that gets ripped off almost as much as Death Wish!!

The girl that gets killed in the beginning is a total hottie and the soundtrack (NIN, The Cure, Stone Temple Pilots, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and a GREAT song by some band called For Love Not Lisa) are the real reasons to see the film ... unless you're a dorky comic book fan.

I have no idea what the hell Ted G. was talking about in his review but Halle Berry gives an amazing performance and so do Thornton, Boyle and Ledger. Mos Def also holds his own in his brief scenes w/Thornton. Because he seems to be such a kooky guy, I think Billy Bob's fine acting ability often gets overlooked and that is a shame but he's good in just about everything he does and this film is no exception.

I have to also that although he is the only Southerner in the cast, everyone does a pretty good jobs w/the accent. If you haven't seen it, you should. And you'll love the deleted scene on the DVD were Billy Bob Thornton brings back his "Carl" character from "Sling Blade" one last time while beating up his son Sonny in the bathroom. Absolutely hilarious ... and you'll need to laugh after this one!