lesley_65

I enjoyed this movie and found it to be good natured, light entertainment. At the start I was unsure how the seemingly hopeless central character could carry the movie, but she was likeable enough to keep me watching and her character develops nicely through the movie. Also there are a number of subplots involving her family members which added to the interest. Certainly the plot is contrived in many places but for the most part it is believable enough to carry messages about family values and determination.

The cross country skiing scenes were the highlight of the movie showcasing some beautiful forest scenery. As an Australian I couldn't help but think that "The Birkin" cross country ski race was somewhat akin to our "City to Surf" fun run which also attracts thousands of participants. It too celebrates athletic success, but like The Birkin it is just as much about having a go, having fun and having the determination to finish.

If you're looking for realistic drama this isn't it, but for light entertainment it's very much worth the watch.

I found this movie entertaining enough but not at all what I've come to expect from French thrillers. Instead of the normally sophisticated story line with lots of genuine surprises this delivers a formulaic plot which could have come straight out of Hollywood. The only genuine surprise was towards the end where the scenarios were so outrageous I wondered whether it was turning to farce, but this was so out of kilter with the rest of the movie that it lost me at that point.

I'm quite used to the violence that comes with this type of thriller and normally it doesn't bother me at all, but I felt that this was unnecessarily brutal and difficult to watch in parts.

But on the good side it was well acted, very well photographed and the locations were superb, so for me it was worth watching, but only just.

This movie gave me a fascinating insight into a sub-culture that I knew very little about. Nicholas Hoult was terrific in the lead role of Bob Mathews, the charismatic leader of a Neo Nazi cult in the back blocks of Idaho. The movie made it easy to understand why such a person could hold so much sway with disgruntled country folk who felt forgotten by the government, and it was chilling to see just how ruthless the group could become. But one strength of the movie is that is balances the portrayal of Bob as a fearless idealist with a glimpse into his narcissism which seemed to be the real driving force for his actions. The rest of the cast were all superb and Jude Law was surprisingly convincing as the wily hard nosed FBI agent who was determined to put an end to this group. The cinematography is superb and the pacing is spot on - the tension didn't let up for a moment. I've rarely felt so involved in a drama, and the fact that it was based on a true story gave it extra impact.