Good movie but grossly overrated

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

well i very eagerly started to see the first movie of this trilogy & really enjoyed it for good 30-35 minutes. i won't hover over the storyline or the direction because it is based on a book & the mood and settings of the story doesn't allow the director to experiment with the plot or screenplay sometimes so benefit of doubt goes with the director.i would like to throw light on my findings.well the speed of the movie is way too slow as the events take more emotional turns then the kind of genre the original book claims to be.With due respect to the author of the book what i mean to say is that if you are making/writing a suspense or crime drama you have to keep feeding your audience or readers with enough doses of shocks or twists every now and then; which is missing in plenty here. though i understand that every crime drama cannot be all about bloodshed with dozen murders to tell a tale but when i saw the movie my heart & mind were longing for elements which make a mystery movie tick in the minds of the audiences.i enjoyed the first half an hour but after that i kinda lost it..police is beating a journalist.. well if you want to scare someone why not hire a couple of pro's for it.. why give a hint that event the law is involved in this. A clever enemy never shows his identity. but if the main purpose of the book was to portray social & political background like corrupt lawmen & capitalistic industrialists then i would have seen the Blood Diamond, Syriana or something like that..but when i go for a suspense & crime movie well you can't overshadow the suspense shades of the story than emotional part there must be a balance which was missing according to me!! Another thing which seemed odd to me the very reason given by the main culprit in the climax just was not digestible because that was the very first reason which forced the lead character to begin his investigation so i am not complaining but i was shocked because i have read many fictions and never came across something so short & plain that it seems childish well again i know that the writer must have had his own reason & thought process to justify the events & their outcomes but they were not worth a movie making material.so for me it started on a good note but it disappointed me in the last one hour or so. It is a good reading material (the book)not for screen adaptation( at least this part)!!The lead actor has given a powerful performance but otherwise not much to do for others.I respect the original writer it was production company's shortsightedness to adopt the story for silver screen. watch it if you can handle out of the league movie with similar thought process story! my rating 6/10.

I know a lot of people thought that the trilogy was a let-down, but 1974 has floored me both of the times that I watched it. This one stands as one of the most impressive works of 2010 to me. The visual style immediately drew me in, gripping me into this world and putting me right in the shoes of Eddie Dunford. I love plots like this, with a guy just fighting against everything to bring down corruption. It's all so gritty and so dark, and expertly draws you into this dangerous, despicable world without fail.Andrew Garfield is perfect in the lead role; he was practically made for the role of this sly and naive journalist walking into the lion's den. His charisma and do-gooder attitude goes through hell throughout the duration of the film and he plays every second magnificently. The character makes such a brutal, wrecked transformation throughout the film and Garfield is right there hitting every single step without fail. I know some people have had some backlash against his sudden popularity, but that really just doesn't make sense to me because he came out of nowhere last year with three performances that were absolutely extraordinary.Rebecca Hall is superb in this one as well, proving again that she is one of the finest actresses of her generation. She brings this cold vulnerability to her role that is very chilling and sticks with you when the film is over. Two superb performances in a very dark, excellent picture.

OK, this is noir, for sure. But it also shines for its shallowness and emptiness.The movie opens with what promises a complex investigation about the murders of several girls, mixed with some political corruption.But here is the catch, because it doesn't go anywhere further. The main character, Eddie Dunford, doesn't have a clue about anything. Neither about the case, neither how to proceed, neither about the basis of his job as a journalist. (though he claims and boasts a lot to be one) The acting is well performed, though it's always difficult to say so when characters and situations are incoherent.I admit the cinematography is perfect, in the mood of old 70's thrillers, which can lure many into considering it makes a good film, just because it looks smart.Nevertheless, the scenario suffers from weakness and evasiveness. The main character is stupid and his main achievement would be to receive the result of one life's work and researches of his dead and more gifted friend, then give it to a cop.So here is another movie with a beautiful photography, a static scenario, a stubborn and stupid character, whose pointless actions lead to absurd and nonsensical situations I found hard to believe. The famous "willing suspension of disbelief" failed to work here as far as I'm concerned.I think I miss Chinatown, and will need to watch it soon after this mess. All the more so it looked promising.

RED RIDING: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1974 – CATCH IT ( B+ ) The Red Riding Trilogy caught my attention Once I heard about Andrew Garfield signed on to play Peter Parker in SpiderMan-Reboot. Red Riding is a mixture of the real events collaborating into factual events but nonetheless it's really enjoyable with all its creepiness. The movie starts off as young girls getting kidnapped and brutally murdered and it end up becoming more than just a Kidnapping, Murder mystery; it becomes more of a political Bonanza. Andrew Garfield is a Phenomena; I'm just amazed how ease and brilliant he is as an actor. You see an average looking geeky guy and when he acts he blows you away. I first saw him in "Boy A" and was literally stunned by his honest portrayal, it was just outstanding. Then I saw his comic timing in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" which was another exciting experience. Now since he is making big waves through trailers of "Never Let Me Go" and "The Social Network", it was my pleasure to watch his gritty & Cookie side in "RED RIDING: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1974", Andrew blew me away with his cockiness, grittiness and wickedness. Rebecca Hall is picture perfect yet again, she may not have a star power but nonetheless she is one of the talented British actresses around. Sean Bean & Robert Sheehan did a fine job. Overall a gritty and wicked movie which at times becomes too much to digest but maybe the novel was as complex as the movie was, a good attempt so I be watching the next two movies in Red Riding Trilogy as well, but sadly it doesn't have Andrew Garfield.