Review of Things We Lost in the Fire (2007) by Conner R — 17 Nov 2009

Fueled by brilliant performances and a pitch perfect atmosphere to accompany its mood, things we lost in the fire is a masterpiece about loss, human misery and the power of human relationships to help cope with with life's obstacles of personal struggle.

benicio del toro's performance as jerry, the recovering heroin addict is beautifully played with precision, using more than just words, but also incorporating body language to bring out the monster birthed from a seemingly unbeatable dependence on substance abuse.

halle berry is natural as the grieving widow to david duchovny's character. the viewer will feel a true attachment to the characters that crosses the line to build a personal relationship with the actors, feeling as if you are truly a part of their life.

gustavo santoallalla's score which is mostly comprised of classical guitar pieces is genereally minimal, but powerful in its simplicity to allow the story to fully grasp you as you follow the plot in its development.

there is not one moment where you will find yourself fed up with this experience, continually remaining fully attentive to the occurrences of our flawed protagonists. this is an actor's film, and its fully proves that the power of a well-played performance can grasp the viewer and bring them into their world, feeling their pain and wanting to be a part of their lives.