chrisjmaes

A clearly-written, thoughtfully-directed movie about a convicted murderer who seeks redemption for his crime. Writer/director Ed Solomon has a great knack for writing pointed, meaningful dialogue between his characters. I was impressed by the unity of his direction: the camera-work, lighting, production design, and music all work to create an engaging world.

Billy Bob Thornton gives a wonderfully wistful performance, using subtle changes in expression to show us what his character is feeling. Morgan Freeman's character (the preacher) is very direct and no-nonsense – a perfect foil for Thornton. And Holly Hunter and Thornton's relationship is handled with a delicate touch. The inner-city kids, primarily background characters, also seem realistic, and the movie makes some fairly insightful observations about the roots of violence.

I found myself thinking about the story and characters for several days afterwards. I highly recommend this movie.