Review of Jack Goes Boating (2010) by David Ray G — 26 Mar 2011

Philip Seymour Hoffman's directing is quite reminiscent of his acting. How so?, you may ask. Well, Hoffman's acting is always so subtle and quiet, he's a "cool dude" (as Steven Tyler would say), but at the same time, his acting is explosive and intense and heart-wrenching. I personally consider him one of the best actors active today. He has to be.

And to talk about his direction skills, wow, did everyone give fantastic performances. The scenes of Jack learning how to swim and the scene where he locks himself in the bathroom are quite splendid. The screenplay was quite mesmerizing, and I so loved the soundtrack and the character dynamics.

That having been said, I thought it was ever so slightly tiring. I did feel exhausted after a point, and this mood and style is something I've seen before. There are kinds and kinds of masterpieces, and this one wasn't for me, even if, under other circumstances, I would have seen it differently.