Review of Gardens of the Night (2008) by Molly K — 14 Jun 2010

First half is seriously intense and really good. The second half is unwatchable. The cause of the shift? The two Leslies. Ryan Simpkins (Leslie at 8) is an absolute wonder. I've seen her in a few other movies and knew she'd be good, but she blew me away.

Just heartbreaking, riveting, honest - she's ten times the actor Dakota Fanning ever will be. Meanwhile, Gillian Jacobs (Leslie at 17) comes off as a prissy little princess dressing up to play heroin chic.

It doesn't help that for a prostitute with a drug habit who lives on the streets, she was clean with impeccable makeup and hair. But really, the problem was she wasn't the slightest bit sympathetic.

Not because of anything her character did that couldn't be redeemed; she was just completely lifeless. I was watching an actor play out a memorized role. I wasn't moved because there was nothing to be moved by.

I never did watch the end. Maybe I'll pick it up again sometime for the sake of the story.