Directed by:
Jeff BeesleyScreenplay:
Richard DoolingCinematography:
Gerald PackerComposer:
James Mark StewartCast:
Christian Slater, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Wes Bentley, Greg Bryk, Aidan Devine, Al Sapienza, Karen LeBlanc, Amy Matysio, Eugene Clark, Tony MunchPlots(1)
Robinson (Wes Bentley) is a law-abiding schoolteacher until his wife Elizabeth unexpectedly witnesses a murder. The killer is Jimmy Dolan (Christian Slater), Las Vegas' most ruthless and untouchable mob boss. Elizabeth agrees to testify, and faces deadly consequences. Devastated by her death, Robinson tries everything to bring Dolan to justice. Without hard evidence however, Dolan remains free. Haunted by the ghost of wife, Robinson transforms himself into a vengeance-obsessed machine, pushing himself beyond the breaking point. (Showtime)
(more)Reviews (2)
McCarthy has his border trilogy, King has his “Dolan’s Cadillac". And Beesley either has a screw loose or he’s a genius physicist. In his movie he proved the relativity of time in practice. One second under his direction seems like all day. So in the end he doesn’t steal just eight-five minutes of your day, but almost fourteen years of your life. Which is a real first. Compared with this pure essence of boredom, the crazily chosen casting of all of the roles is just a minor detail. On the other hand, Beesley must have a pinch of artist inside him, because the idea of taking an adrenalin and atmosphere pumped story and decide to adapt it into an ageing accelerator takes real balls.
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The first hour drags on a bit and unlike the straightforward story it needlessly draws out events, but the last half hour redeems the movie’s reputation. Slater is cool and Wes Bentley also tries hard. King’s short story is a lot better, even though it isn’t one of my favorites, and the same applies to the movie. Nothing earth-shattering, but worth a watch (or a read). P.S.: I was annoyed in the introduction about the furtive verbal confusion of scumbag Dolan with mega-swine Flagg. King fans will know what I mean.
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