



I didn't expect this to be quite as violent as it was. I don't shy away from that type of thing normally, but this was over and above the norm (and the necessary). As for a plot - fairly inocuous. But was justice served? Probably not. The ending left me a tad unsatisfied. There was an interesting attempt to explain the reasons why the main character was the way he was, by touching on the weird relationship he'd had with his mother. Overall, I wouldn't highly recommend this one.
Casey Affleck is perfect as the charming sheriff's deputy but too charming to be real. He is a walking time bomb of rage and it is hugely disappointing that the beautiful and sexy Jessica Alba becomes a victim too early. It is worth a watch and a reminder never to believ what seems too good to be true.
This is an excellent crime thriller structured like a classic Hollywood film noir. Set in the 1950s Casey Affleck is the small town Texas sheriff who hatches a plan to steal cash from a local businessman played by Ned Beatty. There is a dark, brutal plot involving conspiracy, double cross and twist and turns that make this a very compelling story. It's occasionally a very tough watch with Affleck revealed early on as a sociopath who is prepared to commit extreme violence especially on the women in his life. If you've not seen this then be warned some of the violence is very shocking but Affleck portrays the sinister Ford with a real sense of evil. The cast is superb with Jessica Alba as a prostitute who is the key to Ford's plans, Kate Hudson as the local woman he intends to marry, Simon Baker as a detective who begins to suspect Ford and Elias Koteas as a local journalist who also smells a rat. A topnotch film and arguably director Michael Winterbottom's best, and definitely a film to check out if you've not seen it before.