This crime-murder mystery film is suspenseful but lacks any real connection to audiences that aren't true crime fanatics. With a star-studded film with Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto, you think that they would deliver showstopping and thrilling performances, right? Well, I mean they do somewhat in a way deliver compelling yet dull performances in the film. I would like to add that fans of true crime will be thoroughly entertained by this film even if occasional true crime fans don't like it.
When it comes to the star power of Denzel Washington and Rami Malek, you would think that they would deliver stellar performances right? Not in the slightest. Granted they do some good with action sequences and the genuinely suspenseful parts of the film. But with that being said, their performances are rife with wasted potential.
Director John Lee Hancock makes this film utterly dull but there are some good that come out of the film. Just like the acting, this films direction is filled with wasted potential that often feels too much. Hancock tries to make the film as suspenseful and thrilling as possible but it also is wasted potential because of the dull and confusing albeit just flat out odd.
To make the film a bit less wasted in potential, Thomas Newman (Skyfall), makes a score that tries to balance the films mediocrity with a blend of sound that is electric and suspenseful just like the film in a way. The score may even be one of the few things that make this film successful.
With a film in the true crime genre one would expect depth and emotional intensity. One does not get that with this film. It is very dull and at best mediocre suspense. Not really a whole lot of suspense worthy moments in this film. It just tries way too hard to be a thrilling and suspenseful film. With that being said, yes there are a few good things about this film as mentioned earlier, but it lacks what the film is supposed to be, a suspense thriller. As far as I'm concerned, fanatics of true crime will like this film, but the occasional true crime fan, like myself, will not really be thrilled at all by this film.
Poster courtesy of Warner Bros.
Rate: C-
Director: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Jared Leto and Rami Malek
MPAA Rating: R (for violent/disturbing images, language and full nudity)
Runtime: 2 Hours and 7 Minutes
Synopsis:
Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.
