london
i was surprised by this one. i went in just wasting a free rental on some J.Biel. i ended up burning a copy. i guess it was part because of the random scenes with her topless (not frontal of course; she’s a serious actress) or in a changing room, but also because of the story that materialized through the flick.
it starts out incredibly depressing. Evans isn’t really on my list of great actors, but this one bumped him up a shelf. he plays the coked-out, heartbroken, depressed, high-tempered guy extremely well. Biel is her same old shitty actress self along the lines of J.Simp and J.Alba, but i forgive her for it. plus, brilliantly, she’s barely in the movie. Dane Cook plays an awesome cameo (awesome in that it’s short and doesnt let him get into his most outrageous ‘comedy’) and Statham is once again the shit. in fact he had a character development that i’ve never seen. not even in snatch.
the jumpcuts into flashback are awesome. the story develops over the course of the film in a series of these well-placed flashbacks. the style creates a depth to Evans’ character and the story that would have been ridiculous otherwise. almost the entire flick takes place in an upstairs bathroom. it’s a series of conversations that drive the plot and i have to admit i have a weakness for movies like that. i don’t know if you’ll agree, but it’s worth a download or a rental off a gift certificate.
****