Oh my.

I thought that a film starring Adrien Brody with James Caan and Lucy Liu and Bryan Cranston might be worth a watch. I was wrong.

I think it took me about at least three goes to get through it. And this thing turned out to be only ninety minutes long.

I hate knowing how long a film is before I start watching it. I avoid seeing running times as I don't want know when it's going to end. This spoils it for me. I also have a habit of watching films late, then I have to stop them before the end as it's past bedtime.

With Detachment the last time stopped it I managed to pause it for a break a full twelve seconds from the end, a new personal best.

Usually I manage to unknowingly stop films about ten minutes from the end as it's getting late and I'll watch the rest tomorrow. Twelve seconds. I doubt I'll ever beat that.

I know little about the American school system, and I don't doubt this film's portrayal of it. But this was utterly and repressively depressing. I think the happy bits in the film would only total about four minutes.

Whilst some bits seemed a little over the top, there was not much wrong with the actual performances or the film itself. It was just so relentlessly grim it felt oppressive and almost painful. I don't think watching a movie should feel like a chore, which is exactly how this felt.

I'm sure this could have been far more palatable and still get its story across.

Brody managed to star in The Pianist. This too is dark and hugely sad, but it was far more watchable and I never wanted to walk away. And to top that it was about World War Two and the Holocaust.

Personally I blame director Tony Kaye. I'd heard he was a bit mad. I think I may have to put him on my shitlist with Lars Von Trier and Terrence Malick. That'll teach him.

R

My review for what it's worth. Honestly haven't thought much about this film since I saw it. Wonder if I'd feel the same if I saw it now. Brett mentioned "sledgehammering" at the time I first posted about it. Seems an apt description based on what I can remember.

Quoted from rendevous Personally I blame director Tony Kaye. I'd heard he was a bit mad. I think I may have to put him on my shitlist with Lars Von Trier and Terrence Malick. That'll teach him.

This tickled me a little bit. You're not wrong; Tony Kaye is an interesting character, to say the least, and quite abrasive from the interviews I've seen with him. As it happens, Terrence Malick is also on my shitlist. Von Trier, on the other hand, is one of my faves.

Oh dear. I didn't see that thread you reviewed on and linked to. My slip up. Hopefully nobody is laughing about it. Not like that time down the shopping centre when I landed on my arse.

With any luck a helpful mod may join the two threads.  

I read your review and the other posts. I think sledgehammering is the very word.

I watched it as I too because of Kaye and the rather impressive American History X. It's hard to know how much of it is Kaye's or Norton's work. Either way AHX was a dark but interesting film. There was a good story in there. Pity the same cannot be said for Detachment.

Thinking about it now there is little story at all in it. I kept watching as I was sure all this had to go somewhere. But stuff just happened then it stopped. The grandfather stuff seemed pointless and unnecessary.

The stuff with him helping the young prostitute was probably the best part. But as soon as it got interesting they ended it. And Lucy Lui and Bryan Cranston were only in it for mere moments.

As for Von Trier, you need to get a grip and just say no. He's a nutter and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a camera.

The thing that annoyed for years about him was these things he made just kept getting mentioned everywhere for months on end until I'd finally succumb and watch them. Afterwards I'd feel wrong and have an empty feeling inside, like I'd lost my keys or forgotten something.

No matter how high the hype gets or how buzzy the buzz around his next movie I shall firmly clench my keys and thoroughly avoid it. Like I do with that nutter down the road who thinks I stole his car.

R