A Day to Kill

My title is how I feel about many of the other people who've rated this film on here so far. Currently a 4.9/10 rating? Almost unbelievable, but then I remember how few people are actually able to handle real life challenges in our modern world, or how many hate when their thinking is challenged, even just a little. This film will challenge you, that is if you even dare to think about what the film is saying much at all. Many people today however have conditioned themselves to cower, hide or run from things that challenge their minds. In my view, this is simply far from a healthy choice.

This film is based on a novel by Eric Bogosian. Partially written for the screen by none other than Vincent D'Onofrio, who also has a role in the film. Personally I found this film to be far better than its rating here on this site. Gina Gershon gives quite a great performance, and the film is simply thought provoking. It's an interesting film in my view, and one that still has gotten so little exposure. People that enjoy uniquely delivered and/or intellectually challenging or provoking films will likely find this at least worth a watch. My rating...

7.5/10.

Oh dear lord, this kid and his "observations." At first I thought it was supposed to be funny, but after a while, it just got annoying. He was seriously the most obnoxious character in the movie, so it sucks that he was the lead. The writers really nailed the pretentious, "above it all" high school tool who never goes anywhere without his copy of The Catcher in the Rye and an inflated sense of self-worth. He's so full of wisdom! So deep and enlightened! He's there to put the sheep in their places, since he's the only one who knows what's going on! This is like stoner 2.0, the kind of stuff that these guys think sounds so life-changing, like it's never occurred to anyone else, and their sole duty in life is to redirect the miscreants. I'm still not sure this was supposed to be part of the odd, dark humor that seemed to exist throughout the film. If it wasn't, though, I have to imagine the writers *were* that kid.

I didn't know B.K. Cannon was in this movie! I was excited to see her for her brief cameo, despite the creepiness of the scene. Vincent D'Onofrio was fantastic, of course, and his scenes, as painful and uncomfortable as they were to watch, saved a lot of the movie. I feel like the entire bit with the bored housewife should have been cut. It added nothing to the movie and played out more like a clunky attempt to metaphorically represent a boy growing up and coming into his sexuality. The pacing died, and I found myself doing other things with the movie playing in the background. Honestly, if all of that had been removed, it would have been a much better film. Those scenes really dragged, and they were so jarring whenever they occurred, total change in tone and atmosphere. It's like you're in the middle of a car chase scene, then it cuts really quickly to Antiques Roadshow.

As much as I hated the beginning with the pseudo-intellectual babble, I actually really liked the ending. That saved it a bit. Overall, the film was trying too hard to be artsy and complex, but it did have some interesting moments and some legitimate humor. I give it a resounding "could have been worse."

What a shame to see such competent actors like Vincent D'Onofrio, Gina Gershon, and Peter Stormare in this wallowing, meandering thing. Lacking in clear direction, message, quality of writing, acting ability (from most other members of the cast), and filled with pseudo intellectual fluff delivered from a totally unbelievable character. While the attempt to tackle such gritty subject matter was admirable in it's ambition, the execution was severely lacking. Sincerely wish Joe Hahn better luck in his future feature directorial efforts.

The visual effects were interesting, digitally grimy (in a good way), and flowed well with the emotion of the film, but were a bit overdone early on. They felt dumped on you from the start without any context to support them, and unfortunately cliché by the end.

The first part of this film hooks you on. Stylish and well photographed, and able to keep you interested. But that doesn't go all the way. The film loses it's way due to some very disillusioned and sick people inhabiting the mall.

A disillusioned young man living at home in his mothers trailer goes on a hateful rampage on a mall. At the mall we find several persons doing their everyday thing, as the observant college student Jeff which really is smart, but still wasting his life on the mall, not caring enough not if he should take an Ecstasy pill or not. More shouldn't be told before you watch it.

Because I think it's worth seeing. There are some very talented stuff here, though there are scenes pulling down the great stuff built up in the start. It seems like the story is not sure of what it's supposed to tell. There's also too much use of slow motion, and the young boys narrative voice, when thinking.

This is the first feature film directed by Linkin Park-DJ Joseph Hahn, and his music video past is quite obvious. Some clear talent, but the film should have had more work put into the script. The film isn't at all what you think it is, and that is a main problem.

I made it exactly to the 44:41 mark before I couldn't take anymore. The "special effects" in this film are completely out of place and give the movie a D- feel. Special effects are meant to enhance scenes. They aren't meant to be randomly strung about. The endless and extended monologues at the beginning sound like your typical 22 year old that gets high and feels so "enlightened and smart" that they need to give everyone a big speech. This film is beyond pretentious and it shows. They tried to thrown in known actors, but even they can't save this mess.