Review of Stone (2010) by Tomas T — 02 Sep 2011

A twisted love triangle between an elderly parole officer (R.D.Niro), an arsonist (Edward Norton) and his picture beautiful wife (Milla Jovovich) sounds interesting enough but proves to be a rather dull encounter.

The movie is heavily carried on the backs of dialogues, mostly between.

Gerald 'Stone' Creeson by Edward Norton and Jack Mabry, his parole officer (Robert De Niro), and these conversations are definitely the best the movie has to offer. During the discussions Stone transforms from the pathetic beginnings of a small time crookhood, willing to do anything for his freedom - even pimping his wife to the parole officer! -, to a spiritually uplifted man. All the while when Jack, the parole officer, is taking the exactly opposite route when he falls victim to Stone's wife, a man eater willing to do anything for her husband's release.

The movie sure is not lacking acting talent as all of the three main actors pull above average roles, Norton being naturally the best of the bunch. Sadly the acting alone cannot save the movie from the director's (John Curran) obsession in trying to create intension where it is not needed. Almost every scene is filled with artistic camera work and odd sound tracks which mostly feel out of place and succeed only in distracting the viewer. Then there is the fact that the movie, besides the conversations between Stone and his parole officer, is rather dull affair. Combine the non-colorfull story with crawling slow pace and there is not much good left, except the acting of course. One must wonder why on earth a great actor like Edward Norton is taking a part in movie like this, sure he does provide excellent acting as expected of him but him alone cannot make the movie great, not even good to be honest.