Freedomland
 

Didn't find a thread for this film. I saw this tonight despite the lackluster reviews. I probably should've listened to the critics this time. The story has promise at the beginning. As it progresses, however, it just seemed like they were trying to fit too much into a small space. What could have been either a compelling thriller or an interesting take on racial bias in police action tries to be both and fails on both counts.

There are some good performances, but unfortunately some of the characters (mainly Julianna Moore) are written so annoyingly that I could barely tolerate watching them onscreen.

Worst of all the movie was very plodding. It feels a good half hour longer than it actually is. Several scenes go on for far longer than necessary. The scenes of racial unrest somehow felt skimpy AND overdone at the same time. They were just redundant throughout the film, and didn't lead anywhere that wasn't obvious. Had I been given a character "on that side" to follow and rally behind these scenes may have had more impact. And Samuel L definitely does not count.

agree 100%. tim roth and edie falco both did great jobs despite the overall movie.

Been wanting to see this for the longest time, I loved the book, but the reviews stopped me from going yesterday. Saw Good Night, And Good Luck. isntead, much better, I'm sure.

The NY Times really hated this:

<b><i>".... an early candidate for the worst film of the year ... inept, lethally dull drama ... Mr. Jackson is certainly capable of doing better, as is Ms. Moore, who here delivers one of the few authentically awful performances of her career."</i></b>

Sounds like a major clinker ....

Welcome to 'Bombsville'.

= J

Wow, Tim Roth must be great - he convinced everyone else he was Ron Eldard! That's acting, baby.

I saw Joe Roth's name attached to direct the film and I knew from then on out that it was going to be shit.

Agreed. This guy couldn't direct his way out of a paper bag.

MATT

exactly my point. glad someone else noticed this.

But if it wasn't for Roth, we wouldn't have such great films on our hands like...

The Fog
An Unfinished Life
xXx: State of the Union
Man of the House
Are We There Yet?
Lil' Pimp
Christmas with the Kranks (Roth directed this crap)
The Forgotten
Little Black Book
White Chicks
13 Going On 30
Mona Lisa Smile
Peter Pan
The Missing
Radio
Gigli
Hollywood Homicide
Daddy Day Care
Anger Management
Tears of the Sun
Darkness Falls
Maid in Manhattan
Stealing Harvard
xXx
The Master of Disguise
The New Guy
The One
America's Sweethearts (Roth also directed this stinker as well)
Tomcats
The Animal

Roth's studio (Revolution) is like this generations' Cannon! :) And yes, I did list 95% of the films Revolution has released. Why? Cause they're all shit.

13 Going on 30 was entertaining, besides that, good point.

Saw it last night and I liked it. It was intense. :up:

what was the ending?

bwahahaha

Never saw this movie until tonight. What a waste of 1:40. I can usually find something I like about a movie but this one is really leaving me wondering why it was even made. It was a real crapfest. I love Julianne Moore and she was so freakin annoying you hoped someone just bumped her off so you wouldn't have to listen to her whining.

I didn't like Freedomland at all, however there definitely is a place in this world for a gritty cop partner movie with Samuel L Jackson and William Forsythe.

This definitely wasn't it. Julianne Moore phoned it in, and I can't blame her.