The Details - DVD

Tobey Maguire (miscast, got no business playing opposite anybody as hot as Elizabeth Banks, but still it sort of works) is a doctor who gets himself in what appears to be a minus five sit-com. The absurdity had me wanting to get up and leave 4 or 5 times, but just when I thought all was beyond hope, Toby uses his Prius to commit the murder of an errant raccoon, and confesses everything including being indirectly involved in a murder, to his wife. It is an absolutely outstanding scene, and lifted me up out of the muck I'd been wallowing in.Suffice it to say that his troubles are initiated by the continuing irritant of excessive bureaucratic government regulations and social pressures (he lives in Seattle and the Prius has an Obama sticker on the bumper, and he's even afraid to hose a raccoon much less shoot it. Guns...ick.) After reciting the litany of his transgressions and betrayals to her in the car, he says, "OK, so far that's the good news". The last 10-15 minutes are priceless and worth the muck to get there. Elizabeth Banks is superb in that scene, and Laura Linney is great throughout as the neurotic, obnoxious next door neighbor. There is also a good scene with Ray Liotta on the bridge that sets up Maguire's catharsis.Could also be titled, "The Devil is in the Details", "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished", "The Truth Shall Set You Free--Sort Of", or "Wherefore Absolution?". The philosophical and moral issues it raises are legion.Tobey Maguire (miscast, got no business playing opposite anybody as hot as Elizabeth Banks, but still it sort of works) is a doctor who gets himself in what appears to be a minus five sit-com. The absurdity had me wanting to get up and leave 4 or 5 times, but just when I thought all was beyond hope, Toby uses his Prius to commit the murder of an errant raccoon, and confesses everything including complicity in a murder, to his wife. It is an absolutely outstanding scene, and lifted me up out of the muck I'd been wallowing in. **9/10**EDIT ADD:I watched this a second time and, knowing what happens makes the first part not seem so sit-com....ish. The excellent scene with Liotta on the Skagit R. Bridge starts the second half of the movie which justifies the first. I don't know what could be done to fix it, except maybe make sure people watch the preview first, which I hadn't. Whatever, just watch it! This could actually become a cult classic, something we haven't had many worthwhile examples of for a good while.

This film was my kind of film; Quirky,funny, dark, serious, and idiosycratic all together. Toby Mcquire who stars in it as the main character, for me was the perfect choice to play this role.Three turns as Spider Man in that huge money making franchise might for him have been enough. This role really, in my opinion, allows him to venture off into more of his acting chops talent. He continues to bring forth all of the character's vulnerability especially with his extraordinary expressive face-emotionsand especially so in the closeups.Now Toby is not alone in his performance.He is unbelievably backed-supported by an extraordinary cast!!! Academy award winner in my understanding; Ms. Laura Linney, Academy nominee, Kerry Washington, Elizabeth Banks,Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert, and the cast list continues.... Who would of thought it? The film was released last yr .Nov 7th in a limited nation-wide release. This means in my understanding to appox 600 plus movie theatres nationwide. How did the Weinstein co. promote this or not promote this film!!!! They must have had their heads up their behinds!! The film's director-cowriter, Jacob aaron Estes did he create this jewel in vain? I don't think so...But I'll ask again,Why was this film not promoted more?Yet, Toby Mcquire's current project, The Great Gatsby is being promoted to the heavens!! So to speak.In conclusion, I encourage any and all true film buffs, actors,directors, writers, producers, afficionados, and of course, Robert Osborne of Turner Classics, to show this film on TCM and invite some of the cast members as well as the director-writers on his show!! and have a discussion of how it fell thru the cracks... Mark A. Winn PS I worked a day on it and am in the Alternate ending Ashram meditation scene seated up front on the right hand side. Sincerely, Mark A.Winn SAG-AFTRA-EQUITY professional union actor member.

actors in this movie a excellent watch it