Everywhere else, it's just a story. Here in the
Seacosat, the Smuttynose Murders is part of regional lore. So what happens
when Hollywood meets History?
After waiting two years for the USA release of the film "Weight of
Water", we're curious to see what viewers have to say.
We'll post info and
links as they arrive.
For official movie web
site
Read our REVIEW
of the movie WEB SITE
Internet Movie
Database facts
Our TRUE
STORY of the Smuttynose Murders, click here
Weight of Water Reviews:
|
Roger Ebert, Chicago
Sun
"The movie was directed by
Kathryn Bigelow, whose "Strange Days" (1995) was a smart futuristic
thriller...but with "The Weight of Water" I think her problems began
with the very decision to tell these two stories
alternately." J. Hoberman, Village
Voice "Bigelow weaves this ambiguous marital thriller with a more compelling Nordic tale of incest, jealousy, and murder." "But like Bigelow's earlier movies, it's lazily scripted. The plot is filled with inconsistencies; the dialogue borders on risible. The experience is structural and visual/". … with The Weight of Water, Bigelow has taken a big step backwards. Despite a top-notch cast and some evocative photography, this movie is stillborn. Its lengthy period of inertia in the vaults of Lions Gate Films is as good an indicator as anything of its lack of prospects." Geri Pare, Catholic News Service "As the characters in the contemporary story don't have a lot to
say, and the fact-based 19th-century tale is one-note grim and
gloomy, the movie isn't terribly satisfying." Stephen Holden in the NY Times "There is so much to admire.. that when the movie finally collapses on itslef late in the game, it leaves you in the frustrating position of having to pick up the scattered pieces and assemble them as best you can." Vassar
Girl on IOfilm.com "It is difficult to blend past and present action seamlessly, but
director Kathryn Bigelow does it quite well." "Bigelow and writers Alice Arlen and Christopher Kyle have
clunkily adapted the movie from the atmospheric best-selling novel
by Anita Shreve..." Megan
Turner in New York Post '"The Weight of Water, adapted from Anita Shreve's best-selling novel, premiered two years ago at the Toronto Film Festival and it's grown slightly moldy on the shelf awaiting a cinematic release." "All the elements are in place for an entertaining murder mystery, but as Bigelow meanders aimlessly back and forth through time, the plot becomes increasingly water-logged." David Germain, AP Movie Writer "Kathryn Bigelow's "The Weight of Water" may be the year's most suitably titled movie, a dense, pressing drama that's impressively fluid in reach but which ultimately drowns in its own gravity." "The 1870s scenes provide more intrigue.. and the other featuring such badly drawn characters that the outcome hardly matters." "(The)...contemporary, sexually-charged tangle pales next to the grisly 1873 crime of passion and revenge that is the film's far richer companion plot." Manohla Dargis, CalendarLive.com "The Weight of Water" depends on a seamless integration of Jean and Maren's stories for the larger narrative to work -- but even with Bigelow's fluid editing, the strands never convincingly plait together." Kristin Proulx, Concord Monitor "Seacoast residents have anticipated the movie's arrival since shooting began in 1999. What's surprising is how long it took Hollywood to sink its claws into the strange tale. Had these crimes been committed 100 years later, Maren Hontvedt would still be cashing her royalty checks." Evan Kilgore, Daily Trojan at So.Cal. Univ. "It's really too bad, because the acting is superb and nearly
every other aspect of the movie is, too. Unfortunately, the icing
needs a cake to sit on — a movie without a story is not much of a
movie at all." "If for nothing else, see this movie for the tremendous acting. Polley and Hurley are the real standouts -- in fact, this may be each of their best work to date." "Weight of Water" has way too much story going on for it's own good. None of the characters or plot-lines are fleshed-out enough to build any interest." Jan
Stuart, Newsday.com "Kathryn Bigelow's attractive film version of Anita Shreve's novel is a gripping plunge but a remote one, suffering from the weight of one too many inexpressible thoughts." "...a clumsy adaptation of Anita Shreve's much-lauded novel." |
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