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spressarts
Reviews
Bond of Silence (2010)
Compeling story, good cast, disappointing ending.
I will reframe from writing a summary of the plot or a detailed commentary. I want to address both previous and very differing reviews.
I was engrossed while watching the movie and was eager to see the bond broken and for justice to prevail. I felt no sympathy for any of the kids including the sad sensitive remorseful boy who confessed. Underneath what you see is a violent sociopathic killer. True that violence is fueled by alcohol, but it is my opinion that drinking acts to unleash what is repressed.
This being said, forgiveness is a great,admirable and spiritual virtue. Living with resentment and anger is poison and forgiveness is the antidote. It is also a process. I wish that the crime was wrapped up sooner to explore how the widow was able to come to that place of forgiveness. Watching her smile compassionately at the perp as he passes her in handcuffs after just confessing to beating her husband to death was a big letdown and ruined the movie for me!
16 Years of Alcohol (2003)
see this movie...wonderful casting and direction...powerful story
I found this movie to be remarkable. I was captivated by the depth of each character from the beginning. The casting was superb. The dualistic forces evident in us all; the undertow of past conditioning and trauma and the propelling urge to transform, are pivotal in Frankie's story. Through the gifted performance of Kevin McKidd, I felt as if I was experiencing this developmental tension from the inside of him. Contrary to the title, alcoholism was rather a subtle subplot. There were no visits to a detox and in the one scene where we are led to a brief glimpse of an AA meeting, Frankie does not identify himself as an alcoholic. None the less, alcoholism provided a powerful back drop to the more obvious themes of rage, repression and the redeeming power of love and intention. Alcohol is portrayed as the catalyst to fuel the violence, betrayal and poor choices, the gage to measure the protagonist's progress and most important a means to pathologically cope with emotional pain and unresolved memories which thematically appear throughout the film. The richness and natural beauty of the women in the movie and the lighthearted romantic moments provided a welcomed balance to the intensity. The artful direction of incorporating stills with action as well as the thoughtful use of sound light and closeups further made this film worthy of high merit.