I can understand the argument for the notorious scenes in this film – we’re de-sensitized to violence so Michael Winterbottom needed to give something that shocks us; the violence relates to character; it comes out of nowhere so gives an extra shock, etc. I can also hear the voice of film fans who admire it – “oh it was an amazing scene… so powerful…”. And we live in a free country and blah blah blah. But I hated the scenes and I hated the filmmakers for making a film with it. To see not one but two scenes of a man punching a woman again and again and again… it just felt rotten. The camera pulls away from scenes of a five year old girl being raped, a man being shot, various shootings and stabbings… but no, man-on-woman violence we don’t get cheated out of. I also found Casey Affleck’s voice massively irritating (we didn’t need his narration). Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson are beautiful and very likeable – there’s a strong support cast including Elias Koteas, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman (though he’s introduced too late and does too littie). A lot of skill and able work here. But it had a dark soul. I hated it.
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