Review of What Doesn't Kill You (2008) by Dustin G — 20 Apr 2010
This is a great movie, it has a great story, a great script and aside.
From the laughably fake looking punches that are thrown in the movie, solid direction. But what takes this movie up a level and makes it even better is the acting. Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke and Amanda Peet all give top notch performances and make the characters they play nothing less than compulsively watchable when they're on screen. Ruffalo and Hawke are two of my favourite actor's and two of the best actors to watch right now.
It takes place in Hollywood's new favourite go to location for dour.
Crime fare, South Boston. Boston somehow doesn't have the same unique character in this movie that other films like Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone or even Fever Pitch were able to capture. But I'm glad it takes place there anyway.
It's based on a true story and throws a few welcome surprises at you towards the end. I loved how the movie turned out.
I think this is a great crime story and a great film and even though I can see why it didn't get a wide theatrical release, it's good to see top shelf actors like Ruffalo and Hawke picking movies based on how much THEY like them or want to do them, regardless of the film's commercial potential.
This review of What Doesn't Kill You (2008) was written by Dustin G on 20 Apr 2010.
What Doesn't Kill You has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
