This was quite the engaging story about crime and the consequences of our choices in life. However, parts of it just didn't seem to click, with a few too many glaring plot holes. I picked this movie based solely on the combination of Edward Norton and Tim Blake Nelson, as I've enjoyed the movies each has previously made. The supporting cast is quite impressive, too.
All in all, I enjoyed the movie but it felt like the script should have been tweaked slightly. I thought the drug-dealing brother was played for too much of a simpleton. His mush-mouthed speaking mannerisms were a little off-putting. About halfway through, I had to turn on the subtitles just to make sure I understood him.
The contrast with the scholarly twin felt a little overplayed, too. It's hard to fathom such an intelligent person trying to argue philosophy with bad guys intent on killing him. In my opinion, the movie would have been more believable if the outward personas of the twin brothers had not been so radically different.
(Spoiler) The orthodontist's role was a bit perplexing, too. When he starts to spiral out of control near the end, his motive was murky. Was he after money, revenge, or both? An extra line or two of dialogue sure would have helped. I like movies that make you think, but this scene (and a few others) had me asking, "Huh?"
Please don't let these moderate criticisms scare you away, however. It was a good movie and quite captivating. It just felt like it could have been even better with a small dose of script doctoring.
All in all, I enjoyed the movie but it felt like the script should have been tweaked slightly. I thought the drug-dealing brother was played for too much of a simpleton. His mush-mouthed speaking mannerisms were a little off-putting. About halfway through, I had to turn on the subtitles just to make sure I understood him.
The contrast with the scholarly twin felt a little overplayed, too. It's hard to fathom such an intelligent person trying to argue philosophy with bad guys intent on killing him. In my opinion, the movie would have been more believable if the outward personas of the twin brothers had not been so radically different.
(Spoiler) The orthodontist's role was a bit perplexing, too. When he starts to spiral out of control near the end, his motive was murky. Was he after money, revenge, or both? An extra line or two of dialogue sure would have helped. I like movies that make you think, but this scene (and a few others) had me asking, "Huh?"
Please don't let these moderate criticisms scare you away, however. It was a good movie and quite captivating. It just felt like it could have been even better with a small dose of script doctoring.