This is one of those films where you feel the tension building and you constantly ask yourself why the characters didn't just quit while they were ahead, cut their losses. Then again, you can't think logically, because the real protagonists didn't. This is a jacked up story, but life is like that, especially with young criminals. It is especially tragic to see how Justin Timberlake's character can't stand on his own two feet and instead gets pushed around and also how people like "Elvis" will go too far for nothing but respect. Altogether this is a good film, but one that leaves you wondering how people can let their lives take turns like this. Also, a great performance out of Justin !
story based on true event of the kidnapping of a 15 year old boy. gang style film of a group of party-drug mad teens, with steamy scenes, emotional scenes, and hilarious scenes! the guy johnny truelove (playing jesse james hollywood) is absolutly gorgeous! done my research on the film from google pages, and the film is a very true version of what really happened to the young 15 year old boy. i would recommend this film highly as one of the best true stotys i have ever seen.
“You ever have that dream: the one where you did something... You don't know why, but you can never go back?” Director Nick Cassavetes gives us an express tour of the true-life events that took place in 2000 in California involving the kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz. Some events have been fictionalised of course and there are some name changes but the plot follows the true period of the kidnapping. It will be the kind of movie that you can enjoy and learn from… but don’t get worried, you’ll mostly just enjoy it. Switching frequently from documentary style directing to the traditional, you’ll easily get a feel of what the characters might have actually gone through at the time. The actors portray the young gangster attitude that seems to reign through the typical urban streets accurately and we really do have some top of the line talent on display. Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) is the character that draws most of our attention here as he is predominantly the leader of the group. Johnny manages to get himself involved in pretty much everything he shouldn’t be involved in as a young guy and currently his main income comes from drug dealing. Jake (Ben Foster) is one of the unlucky souls that owes Johnny money but does not have the spondulees to pay him back… this is where the trouble begins. Johnny, along with his ‘gloves off’ handyman Frankie Ballenbacher Justin Timberlake decides to take things to the next level by abducting Jake’s younger brother, Zack (Anton Yelchin) He does this to force Jake out of hiding and to get back every penny he is owed but when Jake doesn’t surface and the pressure starts to mount up Johnny is merely left with a hostage that everybody is looking for. Bruce Willis also has a great impact as Johnny father, Sonny. Though he never listens to his dad Sonny at least makes an effort to get through to him. Surprisingly enough though the stand out performance comes from Timberlake. The cold nature and gritty urban attitude is carried off perfectly throughout his time on screen giving us a real feeling of authenticity. These are the type of attributes that make a film easy to recommend. You’ll enjoy the documentary style footage if you have an interest in the event itself but you if your just looking for some hard-nosed entertainment then this succeeds as well and for Timberlake fans this movie will be as essential as one of his albums. Well worth a watch.Read full review
This film is about a group of young lads who do nothing but party and take/sell drugs and there is rivalry between two dealers which of one owes the other money, so as security on the money owed they kidnap the young brother who turns out the enjoy the experience and joins in with partying and drug taking, when the group of kidnappers realise that they will go to prison when the young brother is returned to the family they decide to kill him so that he will not talk. Justin Timberlake takes a shine to this boy and does not want him killed but he helps do the job anyway. His dead boy is found and then the hunt for the killers and aids goes on. The ring leader has disappeared and is placed on Americas Most Wanted list (the youngest to be on this list). Find out the outcome by watching this. TRUE STORY. I was disappointed with the acting in this film but worth watching if there is nothing else on.Read full review
I bought this DVD for my girlfriend as she's an avid Bruce Willis fan but he takes the backseat in this gripping film. The film tells the story of several youths in mordern day america, all living off of the money paid to them by a drug dealing friend. Everything is going well, plenty of money, respect and a nice home for them all untill some loaned money needs to be paid back and things go from bad to worse. More and more people are wrapped up in the events over the several days the story unfolds, most of whom are 'witnesses' to something greater. I won't spoil the ending or the story but will say it was a great movie with some great acting from the cast even (dare i say it) Justin Timberlake. The film has a slight buddy-movie feel but is still based in a not too unbelieveable reality.
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