Lancoor
A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action
WillSushyMedia
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Teddie Blake
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Jerrie
It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
merklekranz
Though the script is somewhat plodding, the film has a genuine quality to it. Forest Whitaker is good as the tormented parolee. Harvey Keitel plays the revenge seeking sheriff. It is Brenda Blethyn however who steals every scene she is in, as Whitaker's parole officer. I would agree that not much happens in this film, yet it is it's low key performances that keep the viewer intrigued. The cast is first rate. In addition to Whitaker, Keitel, and Blethyn, Luis Guzman and Ellen Burstyn also are quite good. If there is a problem, it is with the ending, which is somewhat unresolved, and hangs uncomfortably. I should also mention that the extra on the DVD titled Fences", is very interesting and timely. The interviews with border residents, for and against the border wall, are very informative. - MERK
Arthur Zakaryan
Not many movies/performances/actors compel me to spend the time to write a review that can be read by many others here but if you are a lover of film and the art of acting, you can't help but be completely overtaken by a performance like the one given by Forest Whitaker.Say what you will about the plot whether you like it or agree with the storyline, you can't help but feel for Forest's character. It's easy for us looking in from the outside on someone like the character Forest plays, someone who is trying to turn his life around and live a normal life but to those who have a direct connection to his crimes (Harvey's character), it's a completely different story.There is no question Forest's performance carries this movie from beginning to end and if you love the art of film making and know and understanding acting, you owe yourself to watch this movie.
Yaagoub Al-Nujaidi
The Good: Brenda Blethyn acting was natural, and you feel it is your mom, and you are connected to her.Harvey Keitel missed him lately, and filled his role.Forest Whitaker is excellent as usual in his acting, but not convincing in practicing Islamic prayer, from a Muslim perspective...it might be OK for westerner just to mumble and put water on his hand, but that is not how we prepare for prayer or pray.The Bad: Prayer scenes to start with. Usually a Muslim convert is a devoted Mulsim as he converted into this faith cause he found himself in it and the religion was not reflected on his character, other than pretending to be calm or looking for peace...not convincing that much...Religion was there for just being there with no added value. The Ugly: I have it when there is no effort is spent to have the Muslim practice correct in the film, and worse when the producer and director of the movie is supposed to know more about Muslim practice. The preparation for the prayer was wrong, and the recitation of the prayer was stupid!
Liam Blackburn
This is a tough movie to watch. You feel for willy, he's trapped by his past actions. The sheriff weeps for the dead illegal immigrants. The parole officer weeps for her parolees. It seems nothing good can ever come from this world....can it. This, of course, is Satan's world. He owns this world, it's plain to see in this movie. Willy seeks answers from allah, but alas, he finds nothing but more and more pain. The cycle of violence continues on and on. In the end, Willy can't wash his hands clean any more. He can't do it, he can't wash his mind free of sin. Bottom line though, is he murdered another human, and now he is forced to live this hell on earth for the rest of his waking days. There's no use in running from it.
