Film Critics and Dead Man Down

It seems that the world has become flooded with critics. If you have access to the internet and an opinion you've earned yourself the right throw stones with the best of them. This ability is intoxicating to writers but for some reason destructive radicalism is the most popular method chosen. Just look at the top box office movies currently listed on the Rottentomatoes website, hardly any of them made it over the 60% mark. The reason for this did not come about by an abundance of lethargic movie makers, nor did it spawn in the hands of corporate studios that are just out to make money. This issue comes from the critics.
People want to make a good movie. Why else would they be in the industry? It's really not all fun and games like one would think. It's a job. What's happening is that the affects of Blu-ray extras and the frequent behind the scenes exposure found on television and movie channels are both making people aware of what to look for when they watch films. Now everyone thinks they're an authority and the internet gives them a platform to spit.
Try and keep all this in mind when you look over the reviews for a movie that opened this past weekend called “Dead Man Down”. Now here's a situation where a foreign director, already known for his “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series, has taken his first crack at an American film. Why do we know this and should we care? The fact is it's interesting. Of course you'd be curious how this would turn out but now you've got an expectation to fill. You've already set it up for failure especially if you're a fan of “..Dragon Tattoo”. If this movie just came on television one afternoon and you knew nothing about it you'd be totally satisfied. You'd probably even tell your friends.
Noomi Rapace continues to be awesome in everything she does, and Colin Farrell does a nice job keeping up. Their story is so interesting and unique it's hard to understand how critics can deny it. The awkward moments they share on screen without even saying anything to each other are the best. So much is conveyed without spoon feeding. Sure, there is some spoon feeding in this movie but it doesn't come from the two of them and to be honest those parts actually seem necessary. Without them the movie would have needed to be much longer.
Another thing to note is how visually stimulating this movie is. From excellent background imagery in almost every scene to the perfect choice of camera placement, it seemed every detail was accounted for. Even some fire flies join in on the fun. Some might say this movie looks drab or somber but since the subject matter runs that way it's only fitting. There are two revenge stories to be told here and some bright and cheery tones simply wouldn't do them any justice.
So what you're in for when you see this is a totally acceptable form of entertainment. You've got great characters, an interesting story, a few twists, some action, and an unusual reason for two people to fall in love. Underneath it all the intentions of this movie are good. This first crack at American film making should not be considered a failure for the director but instead be looked upon as a learning experience in the realm of American critics. Most of them have forgotten how to simply sit back and enjoy a good flick.