I don't get why so many rated this movie so poorly on IMDb (so far), I just don't get it. Okay, some may have been turned off by Pacino's performance and have mentioned he was passed his prime, but even past his prime he is still Pacino and he can do a better job than most, besides he has not much more, perhaps even less, screen time as Detective Archer than Karl Urban and Brittany Snow, the other main headlining actors. I was satisfied with Pacino's performance and I'll go see his next movie.
Director Johnny Martin has much experience in the movie biz even if this is only his fifth directorial foray; he has co-produced many more, has also a lot of experience in stunts. He got a good script from Charles Huttinger and Michael Caissie, then proceeded to make it happen in the best of traditional suspense directing, at least as good as I can recall. Thing is
I don't see enough movies in the genre with this kind of suspense and textbook dramatic building to the final scenes. So I just eat it up if the director and cast don't screw it up; they certainly didn't here.
Karl Urban steals the show, as detective Ruiney, with an outstanding performance. His name may not be familiar to some but once they start watching the movie, his face will rapidly come back to mind thanks to his better known past characters in Star Trek, The Bourne Supremacy and many more, it no doubt will. He has one of those classic looks that can match directors specific needs. He is undoubtedly a lead character actor, so being paired with Pacino was a plus as far as this movie goes.
Brittany Snow rounds off the lead trio with a flawless performance as Christie Davies, and thankfully her character in 'Hangman' was no fluff, but rather one which provided richness to the story. She plays a strong journalist, embedded with the detectives. Her character has a fascinating backstory and she acquits herself splendidly. I'm glad the writers wrote this part as they have and it just wouldn't be the same without it. I looked up her filmography and she clearly had much experience as an actor; it shows. I hope she gets more parts like this because she can deliver.
The plot is simple but it's the suspense building and the development of the key characters that makes it a winner in my book. A serial killer, one calculating and sick criminal, sets out on revenge killing that involves both detectives, though one, Pacino, was retired early in the movie and the other going through a difficult period in his life. We do not know of their involvement until the story reveals it later, but the motive remains the intrigue, as much as who he is. His predetermined spree of seven intended victims reminded me of the highly successful 1995 movie 'Se7en' and another 1995 classic serial killer thriller 'The Usual Suspects'.
I stand by the rating I gave the movie and I highly recommend it, of course. Sorry for the spoiler, but I hope it makes up for the cumulative/average 4.9 rating (at the time I wrote this review) and get you to see it.
