Review of Once Fallen (2010) by Dutch V — 18 Jan 2011

I really really wish I could like this movie. I love the premise, and I absolutely love Ed Harris. There were just too many weird things about this movie that really bothered me.

However, I would like to point out what I did enjoy. The prison sequences were well filmed, and Ed Harris's character is really interesting. The concept of this movie is a great idea, the tale of redemption is one that has been used and used very successfully. Just look at American History X. Unfortunately that's about all that this movie had going for it.

The primary problem was that there was just too much with no direction. There were way too many characters with various stories or relationships that really do nothing to advance the film or were just there because. Especially with Ed Harris. He did a fine job and I believe that a story about his character would have been much more interesting. Yet, he held little to no importance to the actual movie other than the fact that his son does not want to become him. Everything with the dirty cop and bloods have absolutely no real reason for being there. The aryan brotherhood characters served no purpose. The whole issue with the dirty cops is pointless. All we learn is that he may have been the reason the protagonist went away in the first place, but that's it.

In fact every story goes nowhere and the focal point of the beginning is only really addressed three or four times throughout the movie. The acting certainly isn't bad, but I felt that the support cast overshadowed the main characters. What's frustrating about this movie is that it sets itself up to be a good film. However the fact that it is riddled with unnecessary plots, plot holes, and gratuitous continuity errors makes it tough to watch. My final annoyance is when the character whispers information vital to another character yet the audience never learns the information.

As sad as I am to say this, avoid this one.