This premise for this movie has intrigued me ever since I read about it on upcomingmovies.com. I like Samuel L. Jackson as an actor, especially when a part is played to what I consider his two strengths. Jackson is at his best when he plays a) a slick/jive talking character, or b) someone who yells a lot. His character in this movie, the paranoid-psychotic-homeless-genius-musician Romulus Ledbetter(man, what a name!)does plenty of the latter! But when his insanity driven tirades subside, he becomes merely good at the role.
Many things are interesting about this film. First there is the struggle Jackson endures to stave off his madness while he seeks to find who killed a homeless man left outside of his cave. Also interesting is the depiction of Rom's madness as seen through his eyes; both as a representation of the inner workings of his mind, and as physical manifestations in the real world. The second was so convincing that I spent part of movie wondering whether or not Romulus actually knew something as opposed to just being crazy (his madness involves a "Conspiracy Theory" theme with a man named Stiverson( I believe that is phonetic, I have seen it spelled differently elsewhere) controlling the populace from inside the top of the Chrysler builing by shooting out "y-rays" and later "z-rays" that control people's minds).
One more thing to look for is a wonderful performance by Anthony Michael Hall as the bankruptcy lawyer who befriends our hero. It's nice to see Mr. Hall has emerged from his post teen star lull as an accomplished actor.
At any rate, it's worth a look-see at the rental store.
Many things are interesting about this film. First there is the struggle Jackson endures to stave off his madness while he seeks to find who killed a homeless man left outside of his cave. Also interesting is the depiction of Rom's madness as seen through his eyes; both as a representation of the inner workings of his mind, and as physical manifestations in the real world. The second was so convincing that I spent part of movie wondering whether or not Romulus actually knew something as opposed to just being crazy (his madness involves a "Conspiracy Theory" theme with a man named Stiverson( I believe that is phonetic, I have seen it spelled differently elsewhere) controlling the populace from inside the top of the Chrysler builing by shooting out "y-rays" and later "z-rays" that control people's minds).
One more thing to look for is a wonderful performance by Anthony Michael Hall as the bankruptcy lawyer who befriends our hero. It's nice to see Mr. Hall has emerged from his post teen star lull as an accomplished actor.
At any rate, it's worth a look-see at the rental store.