Review of What Doesn't Kill You (2008) by Daniel K — 26 Oct 2009

2: It's a fairly unspectacular story about a relatively ordinary guy. However, it is handled in essentially the appropriate manner. There is nothing flashy or eye catching about any aspect of the film.

It simply follows the life of a smalltime crook as he attempts to figure of what he wants in life and eventually steers it back on the right track. It isn't exactly cinema verite, but it comes closer than most picture do in a number of scenes.

This still doesn't mean it's great cinema. For this story to truly be turned into a great film it would have needed to be in the hands of a superior director. Both Clint Eastwood and Ben Affleck have turned out pictures cut from the same cloth in recent years that are far superior to this.

It didn't really get to me in the end even if I could tell it was a highly personal effort.